Salmon River Fishing Report

Steelhead fishing in the Salmon area picked up last week.   The river is clear, with some days just a hint of color.  Night temperatures have been below freezing, which is slowing snowmelt and runoff which could muddy the river.  River temperature is getting into the low 40s in the afternoon. With the increasing temperature, fish are starting to move.  Catch rates are good.  The last couple of afternoons have each produced two fish landed and one lost, for 3-4 hours fishing for two people.  There are stories of fishermen finding a group of fish and getting several in one hole.  The river is busy on weekends; there are fishermen out on weekdays, too, but things are less crowded then.

In the Salmon area, the ice jam at Deadwater has broken out (about the 16th, much earlier than usual), and launch ramps above North Fork have had ice removed.  The river is open, water is clear,  people are catching fish.  Usually fishing improves a few days after Deadwater breaks out. When the river temperature gets into the 40s, fish that have wintered downriver begin to move upstream into the Salmon area.   There is still quite a bit of snow on the flats, but if it goes off gradually the river will remain clear.  IDFG is predicting a huge number of fish this spring. Success will depend on river conditions, especially temperature and clarity.  We expect to be able to fish in the Salmon area through the first week of April if the river stays clear.

As the river temperature cooled to the upper 30s in November, fishing was less consistent than the last week of October.  There were good days, but also slower days. I got too busy fishing to keep this report updated.  This time of year fishing is dependent on whether ice flows down the river.  We have not yet had ice, even though this morning's air temperature is 10 degrees, and river temperature is 32 degrees.  As the day warms, the river probably will increase 3-4 degrees.  The afternoon will be pleasant, and I will go out myself for a while.  Temperature is supposed to moderate through the week, so we'll have at least a few more days of fishing.  Fish are here, turned a couple yesterday afternoon.  It is difficult to schedule fishing this time of year because of the possibility of ice, but the weather forecast is a very useful tool.

10-30-09 We watched this band of bighorn sheep just above the river as we landed the 8th steelhead of the day--our best day of the fall. 

26 October:

Four fishermen, 6 fish landed, 8 hooked and lost.  Water clear, 44 degrees.  Many of the leaves gone.

10-27-09 Conditions on the Salmon River near Salmon, Idaho continue to be ideal. Hooked 7 on a leisurely day of fishing, took home 3 keepers. Not too much river traffic today.

Flyfishing for steelhead on Salmon River.

10-26-09  Susan and her catch of the day! Nice 27.5 inch steelhead from the Salmon River.

 10-26-09  Susan and Misti with some nice steelhead caught on the Salmon River near Salmon, Idaho.

10-21-09 Here's Terri and Roxanne with big smiles and a big fish! We had another great day of fishing with good weather and consistent bites. The fall colors are about at their peak, and the fishing report keeps getting better.