Steelhead angler effort was much lower this week on the upper Salmon River compared to previous weeks. Overnight lows in the mid-teens, down to single digits, resulted in slush ice forming throughout the week. High winds also moved into the area on Saturday and Sunday. Anglers were observed fishing downstream of North Fork in location code 15 or upstream near the Pahsimeroi River in location codes 17 and 18. Anglers were also observed fishing just upstream of Salmon, ID.
- No angler interviews were obtained between Salmon and North Fork in location code 16.
- Interviewed anglers in location code 15 averaged 9 hours per steelhead caught and 12 hours per steelhead kept.
- In location code 17, interviewed anglers averaged 16 hours per steelhead caught or kept.
- No anglers interviewed upstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 18 reported catching a steelhead.
Currently the Salmon River is flowing at 1,260 cfs through the town of Salmon which is 117% of average for today’s date. Water temperatures were near 32°F over the weekend, and the river’s visibility was clear. - Brent Beller, Fisheries Technician II, Salmon Region