I've been kicking around the idea of hauling the driftboat to the river around salmon or challis but I've never fished this area. I've done plenty of steelheading but I've mainly fished the clearwater, snake, and salmon river around riggins. Are there any highly technical rapids in this stretch of river? I've had plenty of time on the sticks but I'd like to know if there is anything major I need to look out for. Lastly when is typically the best time to hit this section of river?
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challis area is pretty drift boat friendly past the northfork by salmon can be dangerous if you have never floated that area before.
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I cant believe I've only gotten one response. I thought there was a whole bunch of people on this site that fished that region. Maybe your all bankies? Might have to just go up there and scout it out for myself........
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I have floated from Forth of July creek above North Fork to a takeout below deadwater. There was nothing much to worry about down to deadwater. Below deadwater the river drops a little faster and there are a few more boulders to dodge. I don't remember the name of the place we took out but it was not a very good takeout and we were in the middle of a bad windstorm coming up the river. We had to get out and drag the boat the last 100 yards. I don't recall any rapids in this section and if I remember correctly we floated 18 miles of river.
I can't tell you anything about the river in the Challis area I have not floated that stretch.
SteelFisher
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I've floated from Salmon down to the DeadWater campground. There is a nice takeout at the campground, but if it's dusk it would be easy to miss the take out if you aren't familiar w/ it. the water is all pretty easily navigable, however there are some threads in the river that just deadend that you might have to watch for.
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There's a ramp at Torrey's put in there. Then take out down at confluence of the East Fork or Bayhorse.
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From right outside Salmon at the campground there is a ramp and I think at least 3 more in the next 10 miles or so. River is pretty floater friendly but there are some dead ends but at least this last fall they were easily determined b4 hand. I camped at the campground right past the fair/rodeo grounds- well kept- and then took a couple of hours and drove down the river just familiarizing myself with the put ins and take outs------ also land features that I could see from a drift boat as to give me a 1/4 mile heads up b4 the take out---- all worked well for the 3 days I was there- never a problem.
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