Salmon River at Salmon
USGS 13302500 · Oct 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
Every 60 min · 247
Updated
← Back to mapIdaho Rivers › Salmon Region
A long, iconic Idaho river with steelhead, salmon, native trout, whitefish, and warmwater opportunity in its lower reaches.
A long, iconic Idaho river with steelhead, salmon, native trout, whitefish, and warmwater opportunity in its lower reaches. Explore seasonal hatches, access points, and current flow conditions below.
Best Season
Spring and fall for steelhead and trout windows; summer for trout, whitefish, and lower-river bass; Chinook opportunity where seasons are open.
River Type
Large, mostly free-flowing mountain river with long floatable sections, roadside access in places, and more remote canyon water downstream.
Skill Level
Intermediate to advanced overall; easier bank access exists in some corridors, but the river’s size, flows, and reach-by-reach regulations reward planning.
Best Techniques
Swinging or drifting flies for steelhead, nymphing and dry-dropper setups for trout and whitefish, streamer fishing in bigger water, and bass gear in warmer lower reaches.
Access
IDFG notes boat ramps, campgrounds, toilets, and some ADA access. Access varies widely by reach, with a mix of roadside pullouts, float access, and remote sections.
Same gauge as Headwaters to Sunbeam.
Explore fish species associated with the Salmon River. Each profile includes identification tips, habitat notes, and practical fishing guidance for Idaho anglers.
Review seasonal insect hatches on the Salmon River, including timing windows and fly pattern suggestions for Idaho fly fishing.
Check current seasons, limits, and special rules for Salmon River before you go. Regulations change, so always verify with IDFG.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Salmon River. Older reports live in the Salmon River report archive.
These YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Salmon River fishery. Watch for river character, access context, and techniques that translate to your next Idaho trip.
Episode 141 · Mar 18, 2020
Map data © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
The Salmon River supports 8 fish species in our Idaho fishing catalog. Browse each profile for identification tips, seasonal patterns, and how these species are managed on this water.
Salmon River, Headwaters to Sawtooth Kids Pond
Salmon River, Sawtooth Kids Pond to Sunbeam
Salmon River, Sunbeam to South Butte
Salmon River, South Butte to Bayhorse Recreation Site
Salmon River, Bayhorse Recreation Site to Tappan
Salmon River, Tappan to Colston Creek
Salmon River, Colston Creek to Shoup Bridge Campground
Salmon River, Shoup Bridge Campground to Tower Rock Recreation Site
Salmon River, Tower Rock Recreation Site to Cache Bar
Salmon River, Deadwater Spring to Corn Creek Campground
Salmon River, Cache Bar to Carey Creek
Salmon River, Corn Creek Campground to Spring Bar
Salmon River, Carey Creek to Riggins
Salmon River, Spring Bar to Lucile Recreation Site
Salmon River, Riggins to Maynard Hole
Salmon River, Lucile Recreation Site to Campbell Flat
Salmon River, Maynard Hole to Hammer Creek
Salmon River, Campbell Flat to Pine Bar
Salmon River, Hammer Creek to Mouth / terminus
Today's day score from live flow, weather, and water temperature where gauges allow. It is a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Steelhead and salmon counted at Lower Granite Dam, the last dam below Idaho, and how this year's run compares with the last ten.
The latest fishing conditions and hatch notes for Salmon River. Older reports live in the Salmon River report archive.
The Salmon River is running clear and fishable with stable flows in early October. Target cooler morning hours for midges and olives, adjusting your seam work for recent higher flows.
The Salmon River has 14 documented insect hatches across spring, summer, fall, and winter. Review seasonal timing and recommended fly patterns to plan productive days on this Idaho water.
These 7 YouTube videos have been hand-curated by our team because we feel they best represent the Salmon River fishery. Each pick highlights river character, access, and techniques worth knowing before you fish this Idaho water.
Fly Fishing with Mike
Mar 24, 2026
Phelps on the Fly
Feb 20, 2024
Dave and Sue Travels
Nov 24, 2023
Teo Fly Co.
Jul 31, 2023
Pautzke Bait
Feb 23, 2021
Silver Creek Outfitters
May 2, 2019
Eric Hansen
Sep 9, 2016
USGS 13302500 · Oct 18, 2026, 5:00 PM
Every 60 min · 247
Steelhead and salmon counted at Lower Granite Dam, the last dam below Idaho, and how this year's run compares with the last ten.
· 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 · Lower Granite Dam
Well below typical250
303
0th
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.
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 overSummer chinook: over for the year, 7,941 passed Lower Granite against a typical 8,900.Season over
Sockeye: over for the year, 221 passed Lower Granite against a typical 730.Season overWhen 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.
Salmon River tributary
Half the chinook run was past Lower Granite by June 23, and they take about 19 days to reach the South Fork Salmon at the Guard Station. Measured over 10 seasons that agree closely.
Salmon River tributary
Counts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers via Columbia River DART.
Half the chinook run was past Lower Granite by June 23, and they take about 20 days to reach the South Fork Salmon at Krassel Creek. Measured over 10 seasons that agree closely.
Salmon River tributary
Half the steelhead run is usually past Lower Granite around October 5, and they take about 183 days to reach the South Fork Salmon at the Guard Station. Measured over 6 seasons that agree closely.
Salmon River tributary
Arrival timing from PIT-tag detections via PTAGIS and Columbia River DART; tagged fish are a sample of the run, never a count.
Fishing guides, outfitters, shuttles, and shops that operate on the Salmon River.
