Steelhead angler effort increased considerably on the upper Salmon River this past week. The majority of anglers were observed in location code 15 downstream of North Fork. Interviewed anglers downstream of the Middle Fork, in location code 14, averaged 11 hours per steelhead caught and 32 hours per steelhead kept. In location code 15, interviewed anglers averaged 9 hours per steelhead caught and 14 hours per steelhead kept. Upstream of North Fork in location code 16, interviewed anglers averaged 10 hours per steelhead caught and 12 hours per steelhead kept. In location code 17, upstream of the Lemhi River, interviewed anglers averaged 18 hours per steelhead caught and 30 hours per steelhead kept. Upstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 18, interviewed anglers averaged 8 hours per steelhead caught and 8 hours per steelhead kept.  No interviews were obtained upstream of the East Fork in location code 19. Creel personnel will begin interviewing anglers in this area this week.

The Salmon River is currently flowing at 1,160 cfs through the town of Salmon, ID which is 108 percent of average for today’s date. Water temperatures remained in the mid to upper 30s throughout the week. Water visibility varied throughout the week but began to worsen in all areas Sunday due to increased runoff.

The Deadwater ice jam is now out, and road conditions downstream of North Fork have improved.

Report by Brent Beller * Fisheries Technician II * Idaho Department of Fish and Game – Region 7