Upper Salmon River
river in Idaho
The 'River of No Return' begins as a crystal-clear mountain stream teeming with trout and visiting chinook salmon.
Cooler
- 01Cooler, overcast conditions with unknown USGS flow data; likely typical fall levels.
- 02Active midge, sculpin, and baitfish hatches/movements expected.
- 03Focus on deep runs, pools, and current breaks for holding fish.
- 04Slow, methodical retrieves are key for streamers.
- 05Precise presentations and adequate weight are crucial for nymphing.
Past reports week by week
7 weeksWhat to tie on
Picked from reports, hatches and the season. Tap a fly for the recipe and where else it works.
Zebra Midge
Matches the active midge hatch in October, providing a consistent subsurface food source for Steelhead and Sturgeon.
Buy at AmazonOlive Sculpin
Imitates the prevalent sculpin, a significant baitfish food source for Steelhead in the colder fall waters.
Micro Leech (Pine Squirrel)
Small leech patterns are effective in cold water, mimicking sluggish baitfish and annelids that entice larger, lethargic Steelhead.
Buy at AmazonComet
Excellent general attractor streamer for Steelhead in fall, mimicking baitfish active in the river.
Buy at AmazonEgg Sucking Leech
A highly effective pattern in fall, especially below potential spawning areas, targeting both Steelhead and Sturgeon keying on eggs and leeches.
Buy at AmazonWoolly Bugger (Olive)
A versatile and reliable streamer that imitates leeches and baitfish, which are consistent food sources for Steelhead and Sturgeon in the Upper Salmon River year-round.
Glo Bug
Effective during fall salmon and steelhead spawning runs, enticing strikes from both Steelhead and Sturgeon attracted to eggs.
Buy at AmazonWhere to fish and who to ask
Lower Stanley Access
Classic riffle-pool water perfect for throwing large terrestrial patterns in the summer.
Stanley Bridge Access
Meandering meadow water with incredible views of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Fly shops within 40 miles
Stanley Fly Shop
Silver Creek Outfitters
Sun Valley Outfitters
Get Upper Salmon River reports by email
Save this water and we'll email you a weekly summary of conditions, hatches and what's working.
Idaho season by season
What changes on the water through the year, with the flies for each season.
Read before you go
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Quick answers
Common questions about Upper Salmon River.
What flies work best on Upper Salmon River?
Our top scored fly patterns for Upper Salmon River right now are Skater (Bombers) (80% confidence), Zebra Midge (80% confidence), Zebra Midge (80% confidence). These picks are scored from recent fishing reports, hatch data, and seasonal patterns.
What fish species are in Upper Salmon River?
Upper Salmon River holds Steelhead, Sturgeon. See the species links on this page for fly recommendations and seasonal behavior for each.
What are current flow conditions on Upper Salmon River?
Live USGS streamflow readings for Upper Salmon River are charted in the sidebar of this page and updated automatically from the nearest gauge.
Is Upper Salmon River fishing well right now?
We publish a fresh bite report for Upper Salmon River each week based on recent on-the-water intel. The current report — with conditions, hatches, and what's producing — is on this page.