Upper Salmon River Steelhead Fishing Report 11.3.26
November 4, 2026 by Angela Montana
The steelhead bite picked up with the river’s clarity—and anglers followed. Last week, effort rose across the Upper Salmon, and catch rates improved upstream of the Middle Fork, with the best action reported mid-week. Here’s Brent Beller’s Idaho Fish and Game update for October 26–November 1:
Here is the Upper Salmon River (USR) steelhead fishing report for last week (October 26-November 1). The attached PDF contains the angler effort and catch rate table location codes 14-17. Additionally, the two attached images show the flow and temperature readings for the USR during the past week.
We observed a large increase in angler effort last week on the USR. Most anglers continued to fish downstream of North Fork in location code 15, but we did start to see more effort upstream of North Fork in location code 16 and upstream of Salmon in location code 17. Despite the large increase in anglers compared to the previous week, overall angler effort continued to be noticeably lower than what we have observed during the past couple of fall fisheries.
Catch rates also improved considerably in all areas upstream of the Middle Fork Salmon River last week. We began seeing more steelhead caught as soon as river conditions improved following the rainstorm that impacted the area two weekends ago. The best fishing was mid-week, from Tuesday to Friday, before a second round of wet weather arrived for the weekend. Anglers interviewed downstream of North Fork in location code 15 averaged 25 hours per steelhead caught, while anglers interviewed upstream of North Fork in location code 16 averaged 17 hours per steelhead caught. Angler effort was low, and we did not obtain many interviews from upstream of the Lemhi River in location code 17, but anglers interviewed in that area had the best average catch rate for the week at 9 hours per steelhead caught.
As of today, the Salmon River has good visibility and is flowing at 1,280 cfs through Salmon, ID. Water temperatures did not change much throughout last week and remained in the mid-40s over the weekend. The weather forecast for the upcoming weekend looks promising, so we are anticipating another busy week on the USR.
Last weekend, steelhead anglers faced challenging conditions due to increased river flow and decreased visibility from recent heavy rainfall. Only two fish were caught among numerous anglers. However, conditions improved early this week as water clarity increased and temperatures dropped, prompting better catch rates and more fish movement expected upstream.
Catch rates rose Oct 14–18 at 45 hrs/fish near North Fork. Water is solid at 1,140 cfs — but Clearwater harvest closes tonight. Here’s the full report.
During the first week of Montana’s general rifle season, hunter activity at the Augusta check station remains above average, with 630 hunters checked and a 26% success rate in big game harvests. Both deer and elk harvests are significantly higher than recent averages, while caution is advised due to grizzly bear sightings.
During Montana’s general big game season, hunter participation in northwest Montana is down about 7% compared to last year, with 3,235 hunters recorded and a success rate of 7.1%. Harvest includes 183 white-tailed deer, 24 mule deer bucks, and 23 elk. Officials emphasize the need for CWD testing and adherence to hunting regulations.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks report shows that west-central Montana check stations logged 3,875 hunter stops in the early big game season, with minor decreases in elk and deer harvests compared to last year. Hunters are encouraged to participate in voluntary CWD sampling at various locations to aid disease management efforts.
The Missouri River, at 2,800 cfs, features low, wadeable flows and dropping water temperatures below 50.6°F. November insect activity includes BWOs and midges, with nymphing suggested in shallow depths. Dry-fly fishing improves in the afternoon, and streamer fishing benefits from low light. Headhunters Fly Shop offers winter services in Craig, MT.
Matt Robertson triumphed at the Champions Tournament on Old Hickory Lake, securing a record-breaking $1.25 million prize with a total weight of 56 pounds, 1 ounce. The event, featuring the top anglers from two rival tours, raised questions about future earnings models and the potential for a unified championship in bass fishing.
Rain disrupted hunting plans for Cameron Hockett and his Fish On Charters crew, prompting a shift to salmon snagging. They reported mixed success, with one salmon caught and several escaping, along with an unexpected carp that provided a thrilling challenge. Overall, it turned out to be an enjoyable day on the water.
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