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© 2026 Barbless.co. Flow and gauge data from USGS; weather from Open-Meteo. · v2026.10.18.2

  1. Idaho
  2. Rivers & Lakes
  3. Middle Fork Salmon River

Updated September 20, 2026

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Idaho Rivers › Eastern Idaho

Middle Fork Salmon River

Premier Idaho trout water with diverse seasonal hatches.

Blue Ribbon water106 mi · 170 kmFreestone RiverSteelhead fishery
View on MapGet Directions
Westslope cutthroat troutRainbow/redband troutBull trout present/protectedMountain whitefishChinook salmon / steelhead context by regulation

A Legendary Idaho Fishery

Premier Idaho trout water with diverse seasonal hatches. Explore seasonal hatches, access points, and current flow conditions below.

Sources: idfg.idaho.gov
Middle Fork Salmon River on the water

Best Season

May – October

River Type

Freestone

Skill Level

Intermediate

Best Techniques

Dry Flies, Nymphing

Access

Moderate

Migration · Middle Fork Salmon River

Steelhead and salmon counted at Lower Granite Dam, the last dam below Idaho, and how this year's run compares with the last ten.

Gauge stations along the Middle Fork Salmon River

Near the mouth

Main stretch

Around Middle Fork Lodge

Access

Fish in Middle Fork Salmon River

Explore fish species associated with the Middle Fork Salmon River. Each profile includes identification tips, habitat notes, and practical fishing guidance for Idaho anglers.

Hatches on Middle Fork Salmon River

Review seasonal insect hatches on the Middle Fork Salmon River, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for Idaho fly fishing.

Regulations

Check current seasons, limits, and special rules for Middle Fork Salmon River before you go. Regulations change, so always verify with IDFG.

View IDFG Regulations

Guides & Outfitters

Recent conditions on Middle Fork Salmon River

The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Middle Fork Salmon River. Older reports live in the Middle Fork Salmon River report archive.

Videos on Middle Fork Salmon River

These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Middle Fork Salmon River fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next Idaho trip.

Middle Fork Salmon River on the podcast

  • Part 2 - Drifting The Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho - Guide Jeff Helfrich

    Episode 15 · Oct 2, 2017

    Part 2 - Drifting The Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho - Guide Jeff Helfrich

    Listen on the Barbless Podcast

  • Part 1 - Drifting The Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho - Guide Roy “Riggins” Akins

    Episode 14 · Sep 28, 2017

    Part 1 - Drifting The Middle Fork of the Salmon River, Idaho - Guide Roy “Riggins” Akins

    Listen on the Barbless Podcast

  • Captain Bryce Tedford - Stripers, Smallmouth, Largemouth, and moving to California

    Episode 174 · Jan 24, 2022

    Captain Bryce Tedford - Stripers, Smallmouth, Largemouth, and moving to California

    Listen on the Barbless Podcast

Photos

Nearby Communities

  • Midnight19 mi
  • Edwardsburg25 mi
  • Big Creek25.4 mi
  • Yellow Pine27.3 mi

On this page

OverviewMigration
Flows
Live camerasAccessFishHatchesRegulationsGuides & OutfittersVideosFrom the PodcastPhotosNearby Communities

River Tools

  • View on Map
  • Get Directions

Map data © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

Fish in Middle Fork Salmon River

The Middle Fork Salmon River supports 5 fish species in our Idaho fishing catalog. Browse each profile for identification tips, seasonal patterns, and how these species are managed on this water.

  • Bull Trout
    Bull TroutIdaho’s native char: a coldwater apex predator that is protected and must be released.
  • Chinook Salmon
    Chinook SalmonIdaho Chinook are big, hard-fighting ocean-run salmon that power upstream into Idaho rivers each year.
  • Mountain Whitefish
    Mountain WhitefishA native coldwater scrapper that shines on nymphs when trout fishing slows down.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow TroutIdaho’s most widespread trout, quick to rise and willing to chase nymphs and small streamers.
  • Westslope Cutthroat Trout
    Westslope Cutthroat TroutIdaho’s native westslope cutthroat thrives in cold, clear mountain rivers and eager dry-fly water.
  • Hatches on Middle Fork Salmon River

    The Middle Fork Salmon River has 12 documented insect hatches across spring, summer, fall, and winter. Review seasonal timing and recommended fly patterns to plan productive days on this Idaho water.

    Spring
    Summer
    Fall
    Winter
    Sculpin
    Blue-winged Olive
    Caddis
    Golden Stonefly
    Green Drake
    Pale Morning Dun
    Salmonfly
    Yellow Sally
    Ant
    Beetle
    Grasshopper
    October Caddis
    PeakActiveSelect a dot for timing and patterns, or a month to focus it.

    Share with Your Followers

    Create custom graphics of this hatch chart to share on your social profiles as posts or stories.

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    Videos on Middle Fork Salmon River

    These 1 YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Middle Fork Salmon River fishery. Each pick highlights river character, access, and techniques worth knowing before you fish this Idaho water.

    The Best Fly Fishing Wilderness Trip in the American West (Middle Fork Salmon River, Idaho)

    Fly Fishing with Mike

    Mar 24, 2026

    Migration · Middle Fork Salmon River

    Steelhead and salmon counted at Lower Granite Dam, the last dam below Idaho, and how this year's run compares with the last ten.

    Counts through Sat, Oct 17 · yesterday

    Lower Granite is the last dam below Idaho. Fish counted there are headed for the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon systems. Fish bound for the Salmon River continue up the Snake and turn in below Riggins.

    Steelhead

    Steelhead · Lower Granite Dam

    Well below typical

    The run is tapering off

    Counted Oct 17

    250

    7-day average

    303

    Percentile for the date

    0th

    This run so far

    25,959

    Passage over the last three days is well below typical for mid-October (0th percentile).

    25,959 steelhead have passed Lower Granite since June 16. In a typical year about 77 percent of the run is through by October 17, and passage peaks around October 4.

    On pace for roughly 32,000 to 36,000 fish, against a typical 71,000.

    Wild fish: 5,568 so far, about 74 percent of a typical wild run.

    Passage over time
    1,7250Sep 18: 857, typical 717Sep 19: 681, typical 758Sep 20: 721, typical 848Sep 21: 596, typical 874Sep 22: 614, typical 957Sep 23: 1,022, typical 1,001Sep 24: 692, typical 1,080Sep 25: 518, typical 1,226Sep 26: 1,291, typical 1,307Sep 27: 714, typical 1,426Sep 28: 773, typical 1,513Sep 29: 837, typical 1,575Sep 30: 1,515, typical 1,627Oct 1: 894, typical 1,693Oct 2: 784, typical 1,692Oct 3: 686, typical 1,716Oct 4: 544, typical 1,725Oct 5: 525, typical 1,650Oct 6: 482, typical 1,623Oct 7: 555, typical 1,553Oct 8: 514, typical 1,521Oct 9: 443, typical 1,533Oct 10: 713, typical 1,515Oct 11: 381, typical 1,510Oct 12: 207, typical 1,463Oct 13: 316, typical 1,377Oct 14: 399, typical 1,307Oct 15: 291, typical 1,234Oct 16: 276, typical 1,167Oct 17: 250, typical 1,050Sep 18Oct 3Oct 17

    Bars are the day's count at Lower Granite through Oct 17. The dashed line is what the date usually brings, the ten-year median.

    • Spring chinook: over for the year, 28,119 passed Lower Granite against a typical 37,000.Season over
    • Summer chinook: over for the year, 7,941 passed Lower Granite against a typical 8,900.Season over

    When they reach this water

    Antennas in the water read tagged fish as they swim past. A best guess is our estimate of the peak; fish seen are dates real fish were actually recorded. Each spot below says whether it sits on this river or on a tributary.

    Chinook

    • Big Creek at Taylor Ranch

      Middle Fork Salmon River tributary

      Best guess
      July 5 to July 12, peak around July 10
      Fish seen
      March 26 to September 8, and nothing since, so the run there looks over

      Half the chinook run was past Lower Granite by June 23, and they take about 17 days to reach Big Creek at Taylor Ranch. Measured over 8 seasons that agree closely.

    • Bear Valley Creek

      Middle Fork Salmon River tributary

      Best guess
      July 6 to July 21, peak around July 18

    Counts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers via Columbia River DART.

    Fish seen
    April 21 to August 27, and nothing since, so the run there looks over

    Half the chinook run was past Lower Granite by June 23, and they take about 25 days to reach Bear Valley Creek. Measured over 5 seasons that vary a fair bit.

    Steelhead

    • Big Creek at Taylor Ranch

      Middle Fork Salmon River tributary

      Best guess
      No call yet: only 1 season has had enough tagged fish so far, and it takes three.
      Fish seen
      None tagged here yet this season.
    • Bear Valley Creek

      Middle Fork Salmon River tributary

      Best guess
      No call yet: no season there has had enough tagged fish to time the run.
      Fish seen
      None tagged here yet this season.

    Arrival timing from PIT-tag detections via PTAGIS and Columbia River DART; tagged fish are a sample of the run, never a count.

    Access

    Guides & Outfitters

    Fishing guides, outfitters, shuttles, and shops that operate on the Middle Fork Salmon River.

    Guides & Outfitters

    View all
    Helfrich River Outfitters on the water

    Helfrich River Outfitters · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Helfrich Outfitters offers premium drift boat fly fishing and whitewater rafting trips in Idaho and Oregon.

    spring,summer,fall,winter8+All levels
    Salmon RiverMiddle Fork Salmon River
    Canyons River Company on the water

    Canyons River Company · Outfitter · Mccall, ID

    Canyons River Company offers guided rafting trips on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon rivers in Idaho, providing unique wilderness experiences.

    SummerVaries by tripAll levels welcome
    Middle Fork Salmon RiverSalmon River
    FAA

    Far And Away INC · Outfitter · Sun Valley, ID

    Luxury fishing and adventure trips in Idaho.

    Drift boatPrivate waterMulti-day trips
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Idaho And Oregon River Journeys LLC on the water

    Idaho And Oregon River Journeys LLC · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Idaho River Journeys offers guided rafting and fly fishing trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

    Since 1978
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    IW

    Idaho Wilderness Company · Outfitter · Challis, ID

    Experience guided rafting & fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with Idaho Wilderness Company.

    SummerVariesAll levels
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    IWO

    Idaho Wilderness Outfitters LLC · Outfitter · Stanley, ID

    Experience guided rafting & fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with Idaho Wilderness Company.

    SummerVariesAll levels
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Idaho's Premier Adventure Company LLC on the water

    Idaho's Premier Adventure Company LLC · Outfitter · Mackay, ID

    Lost River Adventures offers UTV rentals and adventure equipment in Mackay, Idaho.

    SteelheadDrift boatWalk & wade
    Salmon RiverMiddle Fork Salmon River
    Mackay Wilderness River Trips INC #1 on the water

    Mackay Wilderness River Trips INC #1 · Outfitter · Boise, ID

    Mackay Wilderness River Trips offers guided rafting and fishing adventures in Idaho's pristine wilderness.

    SummerVariesAll levels
    Salmon RiverMiddle Fork Salmon River
    Middle Fork Rapid Transit Corp on the water

    Middle Fork Rapid Transit Corp · Outfitter · Boise, ID

    Middle Fork Rapid Transit offers guided rafting and fishing adventures on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.

    SummerVariesAll levels
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Middle Fork River Tours LLC on the water

    Middle Fork River Tours LLC · Outfitter · Sandpoint, ID

    Middle Fork River Tours offers exceptional rafting and fishing trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

    Private waterMulti-day tripsGuided fly fishing
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Middle Fork Wilderness Odysseys LLC on the water

    Middle Fork Wilderness Odysseys LLC · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Experience thrilling whitewater rafting and world-class fly fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with expert guides.

    July to August, quieter in September and OctoberN/AAll skill levels
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Northwest River Expeditions INC on the water

    Northwest River Expeditions INC · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Northwest Rafting Company offers guided rafting trips on some of the most beautiful rivers, including the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and the Rogue River.

    June to September for Salmon River, May to September for Rogue River, April for Owyhee and Illinois RiversClass III to Class IV+
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Solitude River Trips LLC on the water

    Solitude River Trips LLC · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Solitude River Trips offers unforgettable fly fishing and rafting adventures on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho.

    Late June – SeptemberVariesAll levels
    Middle Fork Salmon River
    Wilderness River Outfitters And Trl Exp INC on the water

    Wilderness River Outfitters And Trl Exp INC · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Wilderness River Outfitters offers guided fishing and rafting trips in Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

    Spring to FallVaries by tripAll levels
    Middle Fork Salmon RiverSalmon River
    ART

    Aggipah River Trips LLC · Outfitter · Carmen, ID

    Aggipah River Trips offers guided fishing and rafting adventures on Idaho's Salmon River, specializing in steelhead and trout fishing since 1977.

    SummerVariesAll levels
    Salmon RiverMiddle Fork Salmon River
    IRA

    Idaho River Adventures INC · Outfitter · Salmon, ID

    Idaho River Adventures offers guided rafting and fishing trips on Idaho's Salmon River, known for its stunning scenery and excellent fishing opportunities.

    N/AN/ABeginner to Advanced
    Salmon RiverMiddle Fork Salmon River
    Oars*dories INC on the water

    Oars*dories INC · Outfitter · Lewiston, ID

    Oars*dories INC, Idaho fishing guide or outfitter.

    SteelheadDrift boatWalk & wade
    Snake River, Hells Canyon…Middle Fork Salmon RiverSalmon River

    Row INC · Outfitter · Coeur D Alene, ID

    ROW Adventures offers guided fishing and adventure tours in Idaho, specializing in rafting, biking, and hiking.

    SummerSmall groupsAll levels
    Salmon RiverSnake River, Hells Canyon…Saint Joe River+2

    Aaron Lieberman · Guide

    Aaron Lieberman, Idaho fishing guide or outfitter.

    spring,summer,fall1–4All levels
    Middle Fork Salmon RiverSalmon River