Angler effort on the upper Salmon River declined over the past week. The majority of anglers were observed fishing near Stanley, ID in location code 19. The other area of the river with consistent angler effort was downstream of the Pahsimeroi River confluence in location code 17. Effort in other areas of the river was low. Anglers interviewed in location code 17 averaged 10 hours per steelhead caught and 40 hours per steelhead kept. No anglers interviewed upstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 18 reported catching a steelhead. Anglers interviewed upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19 averaged 7 hours per steelhead caught and 18 hours per steelhead kept.
The Salmon River is currently flowing at 2,080 cfs through the town of Salmon, ID which is 127% of average for today’s date. Upstream, near the Yankee Fork Salmon River confluence, the Salmon River is flowing at 1,500 cfs which is 164% of average for today’s date. Over the weekend, mid-day river temperatures ranged from 42° F near Stanley to 47° F near Salmon. The river’s visibility was clear in the areas upstream of Challis, ID and slightly cloudy in the areas downstream.
As of Friday, April 13th the Pahsimeroi Hatchery had trapped 2,933 hatchery steelhead, and as of Thursday, April 12th the Sawtooth Hatchery had trapped 1,103 hatchery steelhead. Additionally, Pahsimeroi Hatchery staff planted 100 hatchery steelhead in Kid’s Creek Pond in Salmon, ID on Wednesday, April 11th.
(report by Brett Beller – Idaho Fish & Game)
