I fished a couple areas between Ellis and about 20 miles downstream today. I tried many differnt yarn colors, yarn and corkies, roe and even threw on a bobber for one of the snaggier holes. The river has dropped and started to clear up. However, I never touched a fish, saw one caught or spoke to anyone who had. The salmon river at the mouth of the Pissim was actually in pretty good shape. I really thought someone should have hooked up with one, maybe they did after I left at 9pm.
I spoke with a guy who fished the Stanley area on Sat and this morn. He didnt see anyone catch anything there.
Fish are moving into the Hatcheries in fair numbers so it should pick up.
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Thanks for the report. I am heading up Wed to give it a go. Hopefully something starts happening soon. I am ready for some big fish and a good fight.
Anyone else been up to Ellis and done any good? I assumed there would be a ton of people up there being the 4th of July.
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Just got back from Ellis after fishing yesterday and today, actually not very many people at all, a lot less than I thought there was going to be. Fished right by the pahsimeroi and hooked 3 in the morning but couldn't get any of them netted. I've caught lots of steelhead but have never done salmon fishing, they are a different caliber of fish altogether! I was blown away by how much power they brought to the end of my line! I'm going to give it one or two more weeks before I head back up there again, hope the run is really on by then. The river was high but not really muddy. Went to the fish hatchery and saw a bunch in the holding tanks, big, big fish. Cant wait to get back up there again!
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That actually sounds quite encouraging. They are there in limited numbers. Things should be picking up real soon as the hatchery numbers are beginning to climb. As far as power, they will out run a Steelie any day. I am very surprised that place was not packed. I guess that is a good thing also. Just 2 more days of work and I am out here and headed for some fun and relaxation and I have a reservation with a big salmon who's number is up.[
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I agree some of those fish in the holding ponds at the hatchery are giant, theres one in there that has to be close to 40.
Austin-
What were you hooking the fish on?
I knew I should have stayed for the morning bite today. Oh well
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I was just catching them on the normal stuff. Corkies in pink, red, orange, the usual suspects for steelhead/salmon fishing. I honestly cant remember which colors I was using when I hooked them, didn't seem to matter much, we were all using a little bit different stuff and all hooking them occasionally. I was using an egg loop knot with some yarn tied in on a 1/0 to 3/0 hook. We were using spawn in the loop with a 17-20 lb test leader and pencil lead. Pretty basic stuff, cheap too, which is good becuase I donated plenty of tackle to the river today, but that's part of the game, I guess
The bite was pretty streaky but was mostly in the morning, definately get out there early. It seems like they come through really fast too, where as steelhead will hang out in a hole for a little while. Not sure if I'm right on that or not, just an observation.
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Good information. Little light on the line for the size of fish there, but it is cool you actually hooked some. You are right about the Salmon come through in pods and they don't wait around like Steel head. They are like freight trains coming through and you had better be ready with the right equipment when they do come through. Steel head move from hole to hole taking breaks here and there as where Salmon move because of the time of day and just keep going until they find a place to rest for the night. At day break, Salmon are on the move again.
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I am outa here. I should be back around the 19th. Off to chase the Salmon.
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i fished it sunday night and saw three landed and heard of four more that were that day i only had one hit but i only fished for two hours as i was passing threw on my way to lewiston.(by the way i got the job so im moving to lewiston.) i fished the southfork of the clearwater yesterday and didnt touch a single fish i never even saw a single person fishing but it was an amazing and pretty river. im headed to riggins right now as soon as im done eating im gonna spend the evening there and see what i can do that is where the most fish are being caught right now.
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