Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead are large, ocean-going rainbow trout native to Idaho and the northwest region. When adult steelhead leave the ocean and swim back to Idaho, they create one of the state’s most amazing fishing opportunities.

Starting in August and for the next 9 months, anglers can fish for adult hatchery steelhead in Idaho’s rivers. Fishing is best on the lower sections of the Clearwater, Snake and Salmon rivers in the fall. As steelhead continue to migrate upstream anglers will find them in the South Fork Clearwater, Little Salmon and upper Salmon rivers. Steelhead are sometimes released into other waters, like the Boise River, to provide additional fishing opportunities.

News

Wild steelhead return exceeded expectations because of unusually small B-runs last fall

Friday, August 17, 2018 - 3:44 PM MDT

Fish and Game biologists did not initially see as many fish back as they would have liked, but they were pleasantly surprised in the spring.

Clearwater Region Steelhead Fishing Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri)
July 31: Steelhead fishing outlook for Clearwater, Snake and Salmon rivers

Tuesday, July 31, 2018 - 6:13 PM MDT

Outlook focuses on Idaho’s hatchery returns because they provide us our sport fishing opportunity

Steelhead Fishing Clearwater Region Steelhead Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdneri)
Clearwater weekly steelhead update (4/30/18)

Tuesday, May 1, 2018 - 11:49 AM MDT

This Saturday marked the 2018 Spring Chinook Salmon opener. There were a few die-hard anglers fishing at the Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge at the beginning of Creel Section 1, but overall effort was minimal. There are a few Steelhead anglers still fishing on the North Fork of the Clearwater and on the Little Salmon River.

Steelhead Fishing Chinook Salmon Fishing
Upper Salmon River weekly steelhead report (4/30/18)

Tuesday, May 1, 2018 - 11:46 AM MDT

Steelhead angler effort over the past week on the upper Salmon River was limited to the stretch of river just downstream of the Sawtooth Hatchery. Due to high flows and low visibility, river conditions downstream of this area were poor, and no interviews were obtained from other location codes.

Steelhead Fishing
Upper Salmon River weekly steelhead report (4/16/18)

Wednesday, April 18, 2018 - 1:55 PM MDT

Angler effort on the upper Salmon River declined over the past week. The majority of anglers were observed fishing near Stanley, ID in location code 19. The other area of the river with consistent angler effort was downstream of the Pahsimeroi River confluence in location code 17. Effort in other areas of the river was low.

Steelhead Fishing
Upper Salmon River weekly steelhead report (4/8/18)

Monday, April 9, 2018 - 5:33 PM MDT

Angler effort over the past week on the upper Salmon River was concentrated near the Pahsimeroi River confluence in location code 17 and upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19.

Steelhead Fishing
Upper Salmon River weekly steelhead report (4/1/18)

Monday, April 2, 2018 - 7:01 PM MDT

Steelhead angler effort and catch continued to shift upstream over the past week on the upper Salmon River. Angler effort in areas downstream of Salmon, ID dropped, while effort near the Pahsimeroi River confluence and upstream of Challis, ID increased.

Steelhead Fishing