Steelhead angler effort during the past week on the Upper Salmon River was almost exclusively observed above the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19, and the average catch rate remained excellent within this area at six hours per steelhead caught. Very few angler interviews were obtained from downstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location codes 16, 17, and 18, and no anglers reported catching a steelhead from any of those areas.

River conditions gradually improved throughout last week as more mild temperatures moved back into the area. Currently, the Salmon River is flowing at 2,230 through the town of Salmon, ID which is 110 percent of average for today’s date. Water temperatures on Sunday ranged from the low 50s near North Fork, ID to the mid-40s upstream of Challis, ID (see figure below).

As of Monday, April 22, the Pahsimeroi Hatchery has trapped 1,913 adipose-clipped steelhead, and as of Thursday, April 18, the Sawtooth Hatchery has trapped 3,938 adipose-clipped steelhead. Anglers can check for updated trap numbers by following this link to the IDFG steelhead returns webpage.

This will be the last Upper Salmon River weekly steelhead report issued for the spring 2024 steelhead fishery. Weekly steelhead reports will start up again in early October for the fall 2024 steelhead fishery.