One of the longest free-flowing rivers in the lower 48 states, the Salmon River traverses 425 miles from its headwaters in the Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains of Central Idaho toward its confluence with the Snake River. The Snake River carries its waters to the Columbia River and, ultimately, to the Pacific Ocean.
Those waters also carry something back: steelhead. Every year, thousands of these powerful ocean-run rainbow trout return to the Salmon River to spawn. Recent estimates put the total at 25,000 to 30,000 fish—a significant improvement from just a decade ago—so it’s not hard to see why Salmon River steelhead fly fishing is a big deal.
Lay of the Land: Upper vs. Lower Salmon River
Ranging from serene pools to thunderous whitewater, the Salmon River offers widely varied fly fishing experiences. Most steelhead action is centered on the lower portion of the river, but the upper river offers its own distinct opportunities.
Lower Salmon River
The 112-mile section of the Salmon River below Vinegar Creek is generally considered the Lower Salmon River. This segment includes the Riggins area, as well as the Salmon River Canyon, which is the second-deepest canyon in the United States.
Riggins is the epicenter of steelhead fishing on the Lower Salmon River, and there are numerous access points from Riggins downstream to White Bird, where the river is paralleled by Highway 95. Below White Bird, the lower 53 miles of the Salmon River are roadless and accessible only by boat. Some of the top Riggins steelhead fly fishing access points include:
- Island Bar Recreation Site
- Shorts Bar Recreation Site
- Old Lucille Recreation Site
- Slate Creek Recreation Site
The Lower Salmon offers classic “big river” fishing, with deep holes, major rapids, large submerged boulders and eddies. All steelhead must pass through the Lower Salmon River canyons on their way upstream, and fish weighing 20-plus pounds are possible here.
Upper Salmon River
The strength of the steelhead run above the confluence with the Middle Fork Salmon River varies from one year to the next. That said, the fishing can still be excellent for 3- to 15-pound steelhead, and the conditions are more intimate. The river here is roughly one-quarter the size of the Lower Salmon, with shallower riffles and runs.
Above the confluences of the Middle and North forks of the Salmon River, the city of Salmon, ID is a major fly fishing destination. In addition to steelhead, rainbow and cutthroat trout call this area home, making Salmon River trout fishing an activity that is available year-round. Some of the best Upper Salmon River access points near Salmon include:
Steelhead Migration Timing: A-Run vs. B-Run Explained
Steelhead migrate into the Salmon River from the Snake River in waves. The early run typically begins in July and doesn’t really kick into gear until September. Steelhead spend many months in the system, often not reaching their spawning grounds until the following May.
The best months for fishing are usually October through December and February through March. Idaho Steelhead are also divided into two distinct genetic groups: A-run steelhead and B-run steelhead.
A-Run Steelhead
A-run steelhead generally return to the Salmon River system after spending a year or two in the ocean, so they’re smaller than B-run steelhead; most weigh 4 to 6 pounds. These fish are also the first to arrive in summer, so anglers fishing the Salmon River in July and August can expect to catch mostly A-run steelhead.
B-Run Steelhead
B-run steelhead are the legendary fish for which Idaho rivers are known. Returning after two or three years in the ocean, B-run steelhead have had considerably more time to bulk up, commonly weighing 10 to 13 pounds. They show up behind the A-run, often in September and October, and stay in the system for many months. In addition to the Snake and Salmon rivers, the Clearwater River is another major destination for B-run steelhead.
Steelhead Tactics: Swing vs. Nymphing Techniques
A wide range of tactics are employed to catch Salmon River steelhead, and methods are by no means restricted to fly fishing (drift fishing and pulling plugs are also popular). But for devoted fly fishers, most tactics fall into two categories: swinging flies and nymphing. Each has its devotees, and there’s a time and a place for both.
Swinging Flies
An approach to steelhead fishing that has been specifically embraced in the Pacific Northwest, swinging flies involves casting roughly perpendicular to the bank and allowing the current to “swing” the fly line downriver until it is parallel with the bank. The angler then strips in the line while taking a few steps downriver.
Long, two-handed spey rods are often used for swinging flies, but single-handed rods will also work. Swinging flies typically works best with Scandi or Skagit lines and large, bold fly patterns including Green Butt Skunk, Egg Sucking Leech, Intruder, Purple Peril and Lady Caroline.
It takes practice to get into the “swing” of swinging flies, but it can be one of the most enjoyable steelhead tactics. Swinging with spey rods is especially effective on wide, deep rivers, making it ideal for steelhead fishing on the Lower Salmon River. It’s also a good way to cover more water quickly. See Top 10 Swinging Tips for Steelhead to learn more about swinging flies tactics.
Nymph Fishing
Nymphing is a bit more accessible and beginner-friendly than swinging, and it arguably accounts for a greater number of strikes per day. Nymphing is better suited to smaller waters, so it’s a great approach for the Upper Salmon River, the North Fork and other tributaries.
The goal of nymphing is essentially to create a dead drift, with the nymph fly riding close to the bottom at the same speed as the current of the river. To achieve this, most steelhead anglers attach a small split-shot about 18 inches above the nymph fly, and a strike indicator fly above the split shot. The specific length depends on the depth of the river.
Cast upstream, and mend the line as it passes by you to maintain a natural drift. Nymphing is great for when steelhead hold along current seams. Pheasant Tails and Prince Nymphs are great patterns that work well for Salmon River steelhead, along with Beadhead Copper Johns and Idaho Nymphs.
Essential Regulations & Seasons for Salmon River Steelhead Fishing
The Idaho Department of Fish & Game sets new steelhead limits each season, and regulations are subject to change. Open and closed seasons also vary, and the exact dates are often different on the Lower, Middle and Upper sections of the Salmon River. See the current regulations here.
The Salmon River harbors both wild and hatchery-raised steelhead, and wild fish can be identified by their unclipped adipose fins. Harvest limits apply only to hatchery fish (including A-run and B-un steelhead). All wild steelhead must be immediately released.