Blogs

29 August 2010

Steelhead season will be opening soon.  While there are probably a few early fish in the river now, it is still too early for good fishing.  We expect fishable numbers in the Lower Salmon by the beginning of October, and in the Salmon area by the middle of October.  The early dam counts are very strong, and the fish  larger than last year.  We had mostly the one-ocean, 24-25 inch fish last year, and expect that we will get more two-ocean fish this year.

We have a pretty open calendar for day fishing near Salmon at this point, with some days filled.  Our open dates are limited, so it is a good idea to reserve fall dates ahead of time.

We have a five-day trip scheduled on the Lower Salmon starting on 22 September.  That will be early for steelhead fishing, so focus will be on bass fishing, chukar hunting, and whitewater.

Idaho Department of Fish and Game has recently announced a salmon season to open 12 June from Salmon upstream to the Pahsimeroi River.  Closing date has not been determined.  Salmon fishing has been essentially closed since the mid-70s.  There was a season in this section last summer, but this is something pretty much new.  Hope it continues.

Snow pack is below average, with a cool, wet, spring, and river levels relatively low for this time of year, and still clear.  River conditions during the salmon season should be as good as could be hoped for.

We have openings on the Middle Fork for fly fishing for trout during our multi-day summer trips.  In September we have trips on the Lower Salmon for smallmouth bass, and in early October for steelhead.  In mid-October we begin day trip steelhead fishing near Salmon.

River 46 degrees at end of day, clear.  Two boats out, one with three fish landed, 3-4 other bites, the other with five fish landed and another lost.

River 46 degrees at end of day, clear.  Two boats out, one with three fish landed, 3-4 other bites, the other with five fish landed and another lost.

29 March: river 44 degrees in am, 47 in pm, clearer than a couple of days ago.  Overcast, windy, difficult to fish, but two fishermen landed three, lost 5 more--so fish are still around.  Nights below freezing have helped moderate river temperature and runoff.  With luck, we'll get another week or 10 days of fishing.

river becoming slightly off-color, not enough to interfere with fishing, but noticeable.  Water temperature 46 degrees in late afternoon.  Two fishermen, 3-4 hours on the river, two steelhead landed, couple lost.

Very similar to yesterday.  River 40 degrees in the am, 45 at end of day, slight color.  Started mid-morning, fished till about 5, two fishermen, landed 5, lost 1 or 2.

River is slightly off-color, barely noticeable, fine for fishing.  40 degrees in am, 47 at end of day.  Two fishermen landed four, lost two.

Cold night have helped fishing in the last couple of days.  During the middle of the week, river temperature reached 50 degrees, and success slowed, but the last couple of cold nights have dropped river temperature and success has improved.  Yesterday river temperature was 42 in the morning, 46 at end of the day, water slightly off-color, but very fishable.  Two fishermen landed two steelhead, lost another, in about 3 hours. Thursday rate was similar.

The river continues clear, temperature in the low 40s in the afternoons.  Steelhead are moving into the Salmon area.  Yesterday two fishermen landed three, lost a couple more.  We expect three more weeks of fishing, assuming the river stays clear.