Steelhead/Ellis

[Trout_Man]

I know fishing has been slow this fall, but has anyone had success as far up as Ellis recently? Want to go up for an overnighter but haven't heard anything around there. Don't want to drive all the way to Shoup just for on night from American Falls.

Thanks
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[Steelie30]

From what I have gathered, there has not been too much effort above the Lemhi River. However the few people that have ventured that high have landed a fish or two. I think there may be a taker in the area, but I still believe most of the fish are in the Wilderness, or Riggins area right now. I think it is worth a shot if you have a couple spots in mind. I'd be mobile and not hit one hole the entire day. I'd hit a hole and give it an honest half hour and then I'd move and try to find a player or two. Good Luck.
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[Trout_Man]

Thanks, may give it a try. Have a couple holes in mind. Better than being at work anyway!
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[kglass]

It's worth a try. Don't expect spring numbers of fish but there are certainly some to be had (and way more than people tend to think for this time of year). There is a myth that all the steelhead wait below deadwater until the ice dam breaks, and that then they all come up in one shot. This is not the case. The reason the fishing turns on then has more to do with water temperature and in turn fish activity. There are steelhead all the way to and even above challis by thanksgiving every year. Some years more than others... I haven't been this year because I've been chasing trout, so I can't speak to specifics though. Whenever you fish high in the run, you have the advantage of fishing unpressured fish. So the most successful tactic is to cover LOTS of water very quickly. If you go and fish one or two holes all day long you're not going to be successful; but if you cover a dozen spots throughout the day you'll probably hook a couple. And there aren't many other anglers to compete with. I love that water up there. It's a beautiful spot. Hope you get into them!
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[blacktop]

I decided to check out the Salmon Tues and Wed below North Fork and fished nearly all of my usual holes below Cove Creek to Kramer. Water was definitely higher than I had seen it even though it had dropped 500cfs at the station just above Owl Creek in a week. As reported by a several of my friends the five fish I was able to catch were all in the 30" range. Fishing pressure was fairly light with only about ten rigs fishing the lower section each day. I saw only one fish caught by other anglers other than my partner. Hitting fifteen or more holes with only one lost fish by my friend before finding a fish above Pine Creek I was very fortunate to get one late Tuesday. Weather was perfect both days until the front hit yesterday about 2:30 and finished up at dusk at Ellis. Hitting 85% virgin water all in specific spots I had caught fish previously for two days was a sign there were not a lot of fish in the river. Only 30% of those spots would have not had fishing pressure on that day a week or two ago although the fish would have been moving. then. With the above 45 degree water temperature till last Wednesday there are ample fish at or above Ellis in the entire system to Challis as is generally the case. To me other than a quick paint on the way home which much of the time will produce a fish in ten minutes if they are there would never be a destination this time of year. I catch fish if they are there in 80% of the holes I fish within 3 casts as was the case on all five fish I caught this trip.
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[Steelie30]

I think you did it the right way. I agree with you that if you are fishing virgin water you will know fairly quickly if fish are there or not. Usually in the first few casts you will have a hit or it will be a no go. No need to cast for 30 minutes in a location if you haven't felt a fish this time of year. Mobility is the key to the game in the Fall for sure. It is a little different in the Spring.

I think there are still decent amounts of fish in the Wilderness and Riggins area. A few guys I have talked to have said their best fishing in the Riggins area has been this past week. The fish will be fairly spread out, but I believe if you work at it and fish hard you will be rewarded for it. I'm hoping to get another shot at it before the river ices and I decide to crack the auger out and hit trout until February.
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