North Fork Salmon River

Tributary of the Salmon River

  • Recommended Fishing Water

North Fork Salmon River in Lemhi County is 24.8 miles in length.

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Facilities

Motor Restriction
No
Boat Ramp
No
Dock
No
Toilet
Yes
Campground
Yes
ADA Access
Yes

Recommended Game Fish

Species Observed in Surveys

Fish Stocking Records

Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
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Date
Species
Quantity
General Size
1995/07/06 Rainbow Trout 312 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/08/02 Rainbow Trout 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/07/11 Rainbow Trout 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/06/21 Rainbow Trout 300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/04/15 Steelhead 67,489 Catchable (6+ inches)
1994/04/14 Steelhead 67,490 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/26 Rainbow Trout 1,027 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/07/20 Rainbow Trout 1,018 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/04/22 Steelhead 28,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/04/19 Steelhead 62,600 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1993/04/16 Steelhead 32,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1993/04/16 Steelhead 66,900 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1992/07/13 Rainbow Trout 998 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/30 Rainbow Trout 997 Catchable (6+ inches)
1992/06/03 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/08/01 Rainbow Trout 1,062 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/07/02 Rainbow Trout 1,092 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/06/17 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/23 Steelhead 25,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/22 Steelhead 25,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/21 Steelhead 25,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/20 Steelhead 25,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/19 Steelhead 25,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1991/04/18 Steelhead 25,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/08/01 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/27 Rainbow Trout 1,005 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/06/04 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/04/20 Steelhead 99,568 Catchable (6+ inches)
1990/04/18 Steelhead 100,034 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/08/03 Rainbow Trout 1,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/07/13 Rainbow Trout 1,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/06/12 Rainbow Trout 966 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/04/16 Steelhead 72,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/04/15 Steelhead 30,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/04/14 Steelhead 54,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1989/04/13 Steelhead 51,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/08/01 Rainbow Trout 1,957 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/07/14 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/06/23 Rainbow Trout 1,960 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/05/07 Steelhead 40,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1988/04/10 Steelhead 53,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/04/08 Steelhead 64,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/04/07 Steelhead 33,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/04/06 Steelhead 34,800 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/04/05 Steelhead 32,500 Catchable (6+ inches)
1988/04/04 Steelhead 35,300 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1987/08/12 Rainbow Trout 2,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/07/20 Rainbow Trout 1,980 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/07/02 Rainbow Trout 2,035 Catchable (6+ inches)
1987/05/21 Steelhead 75,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1987/03/31 Steelhead 120 Adults
1986/08/12 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/07/25 Rainbow Trout 2,325 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/06/19 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1986/05/05 Steelhead 300,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/07/17 Rainbow Trout 2,100 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/07/11 Steelhead 139,040 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/07/03 Rainbow Trout 1,998 Catchable (6+ inches)
1985/05/28 Steelhead 200,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1985/05/21 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/08/10 Rainbow Trout 2,032 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/07/10 Rainbow Trout 3,206 Catchable (6+ inches)
1984/05/30 Steelhead 33,750 Fry (0-3 inches)
1984/05/23 Steelhead 262,500 Fry (0-3 inches)
1983/08/26 Rainbow Trout 2,110 Fingerling (3-6 inches)
1983/07/26 Rainbow Trout 1,995 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/06/23 Rainbow Trout 2,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1983/03/15 Steelhead 200 Adults
1982/07/29 Rainbow Trout 1,476 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/06/28 Rainbow Trout 2,115 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/06/11 Rainbow Trout 2,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1982/06/03 Steelhead 111,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1982/05/18 Steelhead 45,696 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/08/12 Rainbow Trout 1,232 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/07/24 Rainbow Trout 4,190 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/06/15 Rainbow Trout 1,315 Catchable (6+ inches)
1981/05/01 Steelhead 118,650 Fry (0-3 inches)
1981/04/30 Steelhead 75,600 Fry (0-3 inches)
1980/08/26 Rainbow Trout 1,682 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/08/06 Rainbow Trout 1,305 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/07/15 Rainbow Trout 980 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/12 Rainbow Trout 1,980 Catchable (6+ inches)
1980/06/12 Steelhead 100,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/08/16 Rainbow Trout 1,760 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/07/02 Rainbow Trout 875 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/06/13 Steelhead 48,900 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/06/12 Steelhead 71,720 Fry (0-3 inches)
1979/05/21 Rainbow Trout 575 Catchable (6+ inches)
1979/05/04 Steelhead 199 Adults
1978/08/22 Rainbow Trout 880 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/07/21 Rainbow Trout 1,110 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/06/29 Rainbow Trout 1,320 Catchable (6+ inches)
1978/05/20 Steelhead 55,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/08/15 Rainbow Trout 1,110 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/29 Rainbow Trout 700 Catchable (6+ inches)
1977/06/10 Steelhead 50,000 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/06/09 Chinook Salmon 45,360 Fry (0-3 inches)
1977/05/19 Rainbow Trout 600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/08/19 Rainbow Trout 1,660 Catchable (6+ inches)
1976/06/16 Rainbow Trout 2,325 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/08/21 Rainbow Trout 1,650 Catchable (6+ inches)
1975/07/28 Rainbow Trout 4,510 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/08/12 Rainbow Trout 1,850 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/07/17 Rainbow Trout 1,260 Catchable (6+ inches)
1974/07/03 Rainbow Trout 1,260 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/08/09 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/07/20 Rainbow Trout 2,040 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/28 Rainbow Trout 1,820 Catchable (6+ inches)
1973/06/07 Rainbow Trout 1,870 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/22 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/08/09 Rainbow Trout 1,280 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/24 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/07/13 Rainbow Trout 840 Catchable (6+ inches)
1972/06/30 Rainbow Trout 1,920 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/08/26 Rainbow Trout 2,380 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/08/03 Rainbow Trout 1,750 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/07/15 Rainbow Trout 2,275 Catchable (6+ inches)
1971/06/25 Rainbow Trout 1,480 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/21 Rainbow Trout 1,440 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/08/12 Rainbow Trout 2,160 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/24 Rainbow Trout 2,775 Catchable (6+ inches)
1970/07/06 Rainbow Trout 1,600 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/08/27 Rainbow Trout 1,480 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/08/04 Rainbow Trout 1,400 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/07/18 Rainbow Trout 3,120 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/30 Rainbow Trout 2,300 Catchable (6+ inches)
1969/06/26 Cutthroat Trout - Unspecified 51,520 Eyed Eggs
1969/06/26 Rainbow Trout 11,000 Eyed Eggs
1968/08/15 Rainbow Trout 1,200 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/07/12 Rainbow Trout 3,000 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/06/17 Rainbow Trout 2,900 Catchable (6+ inches)
1968/05/07 Rainbow Trout 1,140 Catchable (6+ inches)
Source: IDFG Fish Stocking Database.

Licenses and Tags

Learn more about IDFG Licenses, Tags & Permits
 

Fishing Rules, 2025 - 2027

All Waters Open All Year

Except as modified in Special Rules
Fishing is not allowed within the posted upstream and downstream boundary of any fish weir or trap.

Daily Bag Limits

The following daily bag limits apply to all waters within each region except as modified in the Special Rules. The possession limit is 3-times the daily bag limit.

Special Rules

North Fork Salmon River
  • December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout – catch-and-release
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - trout limit is 6, no harvest of Cutthroat Trout
Nearby Rules The following special rule(s) apply to adjacent waters but exclude the North Fork Salmon River.
Salmon River tributaries Those tributaries from the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River upstream (except: North Fork Salmon River, Lemhi, Pahsimeroi, East Fork Salmon River, and Yankee Fork Salmon River)
  • December 1 through Friday before Memorial Day weekend – trout – catch-and-release
  • Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through November 30 - Salmon Region general rules apply
Salmon Region Bag Limits
Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

  • No bag, length, or possession limits

Brook Trout

  • Brook Trout limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout

Bull Trout

  • Bull Trout - catch-and-release

Kokanee

  • Kokanee limit is 25

Salmon (ocean-run)

  • Spring and summer Chinook Salmon seasons and limits are set by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission and issued in separate brochures
  • Seasons and limits for fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon can be found here
  • Sockeye Salmon fishing is illegal. Defined as ocean-run Oncorhynchus nerka longer than 14 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding above Mosquito Flat Dam)
  • Fishing for salmon is prohibited unless a salmon season is specifically opened for that water

Steelhead (ocean-run)

  • Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and ponds)
  • Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water. See fishing regulations for details

Sturgeon

  • Sturgeon - catch-and-release
  • Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
  • Barbless hooks, sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device are required. See fishing regulations for details

Tiger Muskie

  • Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches

Trout includes Lake Trout, Golden Trout, Arctic Grayling, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, Sunapee Trout and trout hybrids (e.g. Tiger Trout)

  • Trout limit is 6, all species combined
  • Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit
  • Bull Trout and Brook Trout are listed separately

Whitefish

  • Whitefish limit is 25
  • Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules - if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish

Protected Nongame Fish including Pacific Lamprey

  • May not be harvested or possessed

All Other Fish Species includes bullfrogs and crayfish

  • No bag, length, or possession limits
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