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Fly Fishing The Upper Salmon River
Idaho
The Upper Salmon River begins in the Sawtooth
mountains and flows generally north to Challis where
highway #93 and #75 join. From there the river flows
north with highway #93 following nearby all the way to
Salmon, about a 145 miles from its beginning. It
continues north for 45 more miles to where it joins the
North Fork of the Salmon River. The North Fork flows
westward and picks up the remote Middle Fork about 30
miles from there.
The entire Upper Salmon River contains wild rainbow
and cutthroat trout. Their numbers are generally not
considered to be equal to the other prime Idaho rainbow
trout fisheries, but there are plenty of them in the river.
The steelhead are a completely different thing. They
come into the Lower Salmon in the Fall most years but
everything is dependant on the water temperatures and
water levels. It isn't every year that they even make it to
the Upper Salmon. Some years they don't make it
beyond the confluence of the Middle Fork. When the
fresh sea run steelhead are there, fishing can be
fantastic. They will move upstream until ice stops them.
When it begins to thaw in late February and early
March, they continue on up the river. The faster the
water warms, the faster the steelhead move upstream to
their spawning grounds.
Seasons:
Fish can be taken just about year-round depending on
the species your after.
Winter:
Most of the stream will ice up during part of the winter.
Some steelhead fishing may be possible.
Spring:
Springtime can be good for trout except during runoff,
but steelhead is off and on, depending on many factors.
Summer:
Summer can be great for rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Fall:
Early Fall is usually good for trout but late Fall can have
very low water temperatures. Steelhead fishing can be
okay but again, it depends on many things.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Upper Salmon River:
Fly fishing the Upper Salmon River depends first and
foremost on what you are fishing for. (Click Here To
Continue)
Idaho
The Upper Salmon River begins in the Sawtooth
mountains and flows generally north to Challis where
highway #93 and #75 join. From there the river flows
north with highway #93 following nearby all the way to
Salmon, about a 145 miles from its beginning. It
continues north for 45 more miles to where it joins the
North Fork of the Salmon River. The North Fork flows
westward and picks up the remote Middle Fork about 30
miles from there.
The entire Upper Salmon River contains wild rainbow
and cutthroat trout. Their numbers are generally not
considered to be equal to the other prime Idaho rainbow
trout fisheries, but there are plenty of them in the river.
The steelhead are a completely different thing. They
come into the Lower Salmon in the Fall most years but
everything is dependant on the water temperatures and
water levels. It isn't every year that they even make it to
the Upper Salmon. Some years they don't make it
beyond the confluence of the Middle Fork. When the
fresh sea run steelhead are there, fishing can be
fantastic. They will move upstream until ice stops them.
When it begins to thaw in late February and early
March, they continue on up the river. The faster the
water warms, the faster the steelhead move upstream to
their spawning grounds.
Seasons:
Fish can be taken just about year-round depending on
the species your after.
Winter:
Most of the stream will ice up during part of the winter.
Some steelhead fishing may be possible.
Spring:
Springtime can be good for trout except during runoff,
but steelhead is off and on, depending on many factors.
Summer:
Summer can be great for rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Fall:
Early Fall is usually good for trout but late Fall can have
very low water temperatures. Steelhead fishing can be
okay but again, it depends on many things.
Fly Fishing Guide to the Upper Salmon River:
Fly fishing the Upper Salmon River depends first and
foremost on what you are fishing for. (Click Here To
Continue)
| Type of Stream Freestone Stream Species Rainbow Trout Cutthroat Trout Bull Trout (few) Steelhead (Stocked as smolt and a few streamborn fish) Location Northcentral Idaho Size: Medium to Large Nearest Towns Salmon Challis Season Upper Salmon River Steelhead season closes April 30. Access: Good Special Regulations Yes Non-Resident License State of Idaho Weather National Weather Service Link Hatch Chart Perfect Fly Hatch Chart Fly Fishing Guide Hatches and Flies Fly Fishing Gear Stream Flow Data: USGS Real Time Data (Salmon) |
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Upper Salmon
River Idaho
River Idaho
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| Options For Selecting Flies: 1. Email us with the dates you will be fishing this stream and we will send you a list of our fly suggestions. Please allow up to 24 hours for a response. 2. Call us 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide which flies you need. 3. Call or email us with a budget for flies and we will select them and get them to you in time for your trip. Shipping is free in the U. S. Orders over $50 are shipped Priority Mail. |