Riggins salmon

[nativefshr1]

Hey everyone looking for some help with salmon up by riggins? any help would be awesome. i have never caught a fish there but have netted a lot for other people. Just looking for some tips spots or info. I usually fish by myself so if anyone is headed up there hit me up i would love to net one for you.
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[phutch30]

There are no secret spots in Riggans. Within 10 min of getting there you will know where 95% of the fish are caught. The real trick is being able to get a spot in those spots. Early bird catches the worm there.

Its pretty turfy fishing. You wont be just walking down into a crowd an fish. You may have to wait your turn to get into a popular hole.

Same deal with the little Salmon. The popular holes are filled up well before legal fishing hours.

Bring lots of hooks and lead. Until you learn the hole your fishing it can get expensive fast.

My advice is to go with the flow. Dont walk into a bobber hole and try to drift fish it and vs versa.

Dont cast out sequence in a group. This will get everyone fired up and youll spend a lot of time in tangles.

If your boat fishing bring a range finder and stay the 30yards off shore.

Have fun
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[RatFink]

My advice is to ask Huntsman. He has a standing offer to take people out on the river and show them how it's done. The dude is a Salmon fishing GOD, just ask him if you don't believe me.

In all honesty, don't substitute spark plugs for lead on your rigs unless you feel like tangling with all of your neighbors.
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[phutch30]

With the flows predicted for memorial weekend the spark plud guy better switch to his old stndby..rocks. Not sure how many sprk plugs he will need to hold bottom.....since he gravitates right to you..let me know. HAHAH
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[nativefshr1]

Thank you everyone for the tips and the messages. One quick question. Say i am plunking can i still put my two pole permit to use for salmon?
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[Huntsman]

Hey Fink, I'll be over on the LS several times this season. I'll be on the River WAY before fishing light to hold a spot for you, and you're alway welcome to come share my rock, because with you there, I know I don't have to "share" the fish.

C'mon, Bro....I know I sprinkled a bit of salt in your, "lack-of-hooking" fish wound, but to let everyone else know....that's pretty !! :-)

Bring your bobber and let's see how you do.....

LOL
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[iDNookie]

Ratfink, my "advise" to you is to indeed ask Huntsman too. My family was new to steelhead fishing a few years ago, and Huntsman and his son helped us, without any thought for their own fishing. My bet is that you'd have not come close to that assistance.

Yes indeed, I'd surly ask for Huntsman's advise, and I'm betting by your sour-demeanor, you should as well, should your pride will allow.
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[RatFink]

You are kidding right? I have been fishing Salmon and Steelhead for 27 years. I have no problem catching fish. I just enjoy pointing out people that think they are god's gift to fishing and talk down to people. I have helped a lot of people learn to become better fishermen, and some have helped me too. What I do not need is help on catching Salmon at Riggins as my buddies and I have that pretty well dialed in. Thanks for thinking of me though.
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[IDDickHead]

Ratfink, your demeanor is amusing, to say the least. As you've self-professed yourself as a glorious angler, which is typical of those whom have a SP syndrome. We're all completely confident that you, and your buddies, have the Riggins area dialed in. However, I've known Huntsman and his family for decades, and if you only have 27 years of salmon fishing experience under your belt, then you have about half of Huntsman's knowledge. As for being, "God's gift to fishing, and talking down to people", this is complete evidence that you haven't a clue as to what the Huntsman family is like, and once again, points to your apparent fishing insecurity. My advise to you is to find Huntsman, and do nothing but watch and learn!

Who is it that "talks down to people"? Look in the mirror buddy.
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[Huntsman]

I apologize Mr. Ratfink, for talking down to you regarding your salmon and steelhead expertise....after all, you are from Helena. Do they have a lot of anadromous (you do know that term, right?), fish runs in the Helena area?

You need to put your giant ego in your tiny pocket, and just learn to have a good time. You remind me of a guy several years ago on the Little Salmon that wanted to take the net away from my 12 year old son, and when I insisted that my son net the fish, the "expert" challenged me with, "Oh yeah, do you want to see how many notches I have on my tag....!!!"

Good grief.....Rat, lighten up and enjoy life. I completely wish you the best of seasons this summer.
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[IDDickHead]

Hey Ratboy, there's more entailed for a Montana boy to catching an Idaho Chinook on that tiny Llittle Salmon River, even though it's "creek sized" by MT standards. Now, if you wanna try to fish with the die-hardship, you'll need to be up before 10:00am, so you have a chance at a decent spot, without a local shoving your sheep-loving butt into,the river.

My suggestion is that you spend a day or two, and study the fishermen, see who's hook inch fish, and generally knows what their doing. One hint here, is watch for those Hansen, Johnson, Haney, and your gonna love this one but it's the best....the Huntsman crew. Simply watch and learn....and then you might have a chance to take some salmon home to,momma, without buying them from the Sho-Shone...

Your choice .......27 years right....lol, right
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[blacktop]

Native you can use two rods with permit for salmon and steelhead. I expect fish in Riggins by Wed 16 days back on first 600 day over Granite. Near nothing at all being caught in town. Some are being caught at Whitebird know of one boat who caught four Tuesday. Raising water will make for tougher fishing but plunking should be somewhat effective around Hammer Creek.
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[nativefshr1]

Thank you for the feed back. I'll be in a white jeep on the mai. Plunk in I think might hit the little salmon I'll be up there Tuesday and wensday this week and prob every week for the next 4 weeks. If anyone needs help with netting fish or anything let me know. Anyone is always welcome to join me. I usually fish alone so company is welcome good luck all. O and as a new guy out there if I do something wrong be nice let me know and I won't do it again. Thanks again all good luck.
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[Kodiak1]

I've rec'd a couple of requests to shut this thread down. The tone of some of the posts don't reflect the historically nice and helpful (and modest!) nature of this site. Please play nice, as my co-moderator has already requested. Thanks, Mike
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[Huntsman]

Native, be watchful of the Little Salmon water levels, as they have ballooned up to 2,800+ cfs! which usually means muddy water too. Hopefully, the levels will drop soon!!!
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[nativefshr1]

Ya I might go up the.main a ways until I can't take it any more or find a good spot. Coming from the valley so its a long treck. Thank you for the heads. Up.
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[phutch30]

not sure if you were saying you were going to plunk the little river, but I dont think your going to have much luck if that was your idea. The little river is a drift fishery. I cant think of any spots where you will be able to plunk.

Main rivers blown out right now at 53K muddy and lots of debri
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[nativefshr1]

Oopps nope missed the . I won't plunk the little river. Might just stop look and learn on the little salmon.
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[hammerindown]

I have seen a guy do pretty well plunking on the little river actually. He would sit just behind his camper in the camp ground just down river from the old bridge the made into a foot bridge just above the mill. He would hangout have some drinks and lounge while catching fish no combat either.
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[Huntsman]

A few years ago we made a trip over to The Little Salmon, only to find that the 70+ degree temp had blown the Little River to 3,300 cfs, and turned it into chocolate milk. We waited for several days hoping the water would clear up, but to no avail.

The following week, IDFG posted that the catch rates for the week we were there was less than 6/hrs per fish. When I called and questioned their statistics, I was told that there were a few guys "plunking on the SE side of the LS, just above the confluence with the Main", and just splayed 'em.

There wasn't 2" of visibility, but F&G told me that these guys ramped their numbers up.....
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