Steelhead angler effort and catch increased this past week on the upper Salmon River. The largest increase in angler effort was observed upstream of North Fork in location code 16, but the majority of anglers were still observed downstream of North Fork in location code 15.
Anglers interviewed downstream of the Middle Fork in location code 14 averaged 32 hours per steelhead caught and 353 hours per steelhead kept. Anglers interviewed upstream of the Middle Fork in location code 15 averaged 36 hours per steelhead caught and 132 hours per steelhead kept. Anglers interviewed upstream of North Fork in location code 16 averaged 36 hours per steelhead caught and 146 hours per steelhead kept. Angler effort upstream of the Lemhi River in location code 17 was low, and no interviewed anglers reported catching a steelhead.
The Salmon River is currently flowing at 1,410 cfs through the town of Salmon, ID which is 108% of average for today’s date. Additionally, the river had clear visibility throughout the weekend in all location codes, and water temperatures were in the mid to upper 40s.
by Brett Beller – Idaho Fish & Game