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As I pulled into Ellis the first thing I noticed was no camp trailers, uh oh, I am to high up. Ten hours later and 13 fish hooked, eight landed, not feeling so bad about my choice. Turned loose a wild 32 incher and eventually kept a limit for the smoker. No more than 20 guys fishing the hole, at one time I was the only bank fisherman in sight. Talked to fish checker gal and she said most fisherman are finding most success from Salmon to Red Rock. I love to share picture but fishing was so good I didn't take any...when does that ever happen steelhead fishing? Never for me. As I headed back to SUV to leave I see this 100 pound boulder bouncing down the hill takes two massive jumps and goes right over the top of my vehicle. Some days you just have good juju going on. I'll take when it's there.
Happy fishing everybody.
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Sounds like a pretty awesome day... good juju, indeed!
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Good work, we are enjoying good fishing floating up River around challis as well. Haven't been fishing long days, only 4-5 hours floats but have managed 5-6 fish each day over the past three days. Thought I'd ask if you noticed that a number of the fish seem to be in really good shape? A number of our fish have looked like fall fish, bright with firm flesh. Anyway, glad your vehicle is safe and that you had a good trip!
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One out of the ones I kept really firm. I smoke all of my fish in the spring. Caught one that I turned loose that was silver as could be. Looked like she had just come up and was the hardest pulling fish I hooked all day.
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Im down near Salmon from Post Falls and haven't been having much luck. Any chance you guys can share what you have been using to catch fish?
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silver corky and nightcrawler. or a chartruese jig tipped with shrimp under a bobber. Both have been equally deadly around Salmon
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I was using 10mm bead, 2 bead setup tipped with shrimp
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Fish are moving to fast in the afternoon morning has been ok but not great they got 199 in thur morning for 500 since Monday 2023 for the year. Simple method working good for me is pegged corkie 10mm orange and pink working really good. Has outfished beads and jigs this year for me which is a little rare. I fish all three in most holes with beads working well usually under bobber. Water is up at Ellis and fish are moving on the inside seams with bigger numbers coming in fishing will decline as the fish will not be territorial close to pahsimerio especially after noon.
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We have been using pink metallic corkies and cerise yarn and orange corkie with white yarn. Each producing good numbers of fish.
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We have experienced the opposite just above Ellis up to around challis. Fishing has been much better in the afternoon than in the morning for us, which I believe has to do with water temp in the stretches we fish. Afternoon water temps during the nice days reached upwards of 42-43 degrees, and we had great fishing during those times. today was our slowest day and the river temp was right around 39 degrees. Of course there's a lot of variables, but that's how our trip has been. Also, water is low and very clear upriver... Seems the word is out now, no more than 2-3 boats each day we floated, today there were 14 on the stretch we fished.
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I think it is the area close to the mouth of the pahsimerio the fish just motor in the afternoon. Cold temperatures make for better fishing there. When the entire area visable from the bank around the mouth is producing a couple of fish in the afternoon and only one in six drift boats are catching a fish period in that area it is crappy fishing. Much better idea to fish upriver or below Cronk's canyon in the drift boats.
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The Sawtooth fish simply have a different timetable than the Pahs. when close to their release area they are singleminded when moving when the water warms up.
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Yeah we experienced the poor fishing last year with early season warm temps. Surprised to hear fishing hasn't been as good down there though. Hopefully cooler temps over the next week will keep the run going longer than last year.
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With 50 degree temperature highs forcast for six days at Stanley starting next Friday fishing below Challis will be pretty much over by next weekend. By Tuesday it will likely be over 1000 cfs at Yankee fork and be over below there.
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I know the fishing was still going strong this past week into Saturday from a first hand report. Saw the levels had moved up today, however. Just wondering if anyone knows if the water is still fishable in terms of clarity?
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At these flows which will increase each day fishing is pretty much over below the Yankee Fork.
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Was up yesterday. Yankee Fork and Basin Creek running off color and coloring the Salmon. So far clear above there. Big crowds Basin Creek to Sawtooth Weir. Crowds are gone below the Yankee Fork.
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My dad went up today and said water below yankee fork is slightly stained, but fishable. Said there were 10 or so guys at yankee fork but, like you said, few anglers below there.
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I was out above Yankee Fork on Thursday and it was really good fishing since the water had cleared up some and dropped about 200cfs the prior day. However, by the end of the day (65°) it was turning to chocolate milk. Anything below Valley creek is pretty dirty. Anything below basin creek is unfishable. It will be good for all the smolts to ride the water down..
There are still some fish to be had, but it has to be winding down for sure. They are just blowing to the hatcheries right now.
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Thanks for the update. I was planning on going up this past Friday but figured things were going to get worse so decided to crappie fish instead! I was hoping this year would be a longer season, but can't control the weather - you're Right about the smolts, glad that there will be fast water to move them along!
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