Upper Salmon River Weekly Steelhead Report 3.19.18
By angelamontana

Posted: March 20, 2018

Steelhead anglers were more spread out this week on the upper Salmon River compared to previous weeks. Angler effort downstream of Salmon in location codes 14, 15, and 16 dropped while effort upstream of Salmon in location codes 17, 18, and 19 increased. Over the weekend, the majority of anglers were observed fishing near the confluence of the Pahsimeroi River. Effort upstream of Challis also increased and was the highest that has been seen up to this point in the season.

Catch rates were relatively consistent across the basin this week with the best catch rates found upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19. Anglers interviewed within location code 19 averaged 5 hours per steelhead caught and 9 hours per steelhead kept. Anglers interviewed downstream of the Middle Fork Salmon River in location code 14 averaged 14 hours per steelhead caught, and no steelhead were reported as harvested. Anglers interviewed downstream of North Fork in location code 15 averaged 12 hours per steelhead caught and 29 hours per steelhead kept. Anglers interviewed upstream of North Fork in location code 16 averaged 22 hours per steelhead caught and 66 hours per steelhead kept. Anglers interviewed upstream of the Lemhi River in location code 17 averaged 14 hours per steelhead caught and 27 hours per steelhead kept. Anglers interviewed upstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 18 averaged 13 hours per steelhead caught and 35 hours per steelhead kept.

The Salmon River is currently flowing at 1,250 cfs through the town of Salmon, ID which is 110% of average for today’s date. On Sunday the river was clear upstream of the Lemhi River confluence and cloudy downstream of it. River temperatures on Sunday ranged from 40° F upstream of Challis, ID to 44° F downstream of North Fork.

As of Friday March 16th, the Pahsimeroi Hatchery had trapped 115 hatchery adult steelhead, and as of Sunday March 18th, the Sawtooth Hatchery had trapped 4 hatchery adult steelhead.

Report via Brent Beller * Idaho Fish & Game
New Podcast!

Riley's Meats - Butte Wild Game Processing