Challis Steelhead report from sunday.

[chrome_junky]

so here is my report from sunday i finally have a minute to post it before i head to work. ducttaped4runner and i headed to challis on sunday we got there late because we had stayed up the night before coon hunting. i was pretty determined to catch a steelhead on my fly rod so i fished the first half of the day with my fly rod i only had two hook ups with it long enough to tale it was a fish and then gone. we went all afternoon with no other hits so i took ducttaped 4runner to the fish hatchery for his first time we got there and walked up on the tanks and a big male i would say about 10 pounds started at the end of the tank and jumped 4ft in the air 4 times in a row now that was awesome we looked down in the murky water of the tank and could see huge steelhead 10 pounders 15 pounders it was pretty awesome. we moved to the ellis hole late in the afternoon around 4 pm or so and i busted out my spinning rod and a black helgie with a silver corkie and on the third cast boom nailed by nice buck. man he was not happy when he got hooked he pulled line like it was nothing after about 5 minutes ducttaped4runner managed to get the net under him. he was pretty but one of his eyes was messed up you can see it in the picture. about 20 minutes later i hooked into a hen in the exact spot that i hooked the male. she took to the air when she had relized she was hooked. for those of you who have never seen a steelhead jump its amazing. on the second jump she spit the hook went down into the water then jumped again. after that we never had anymore action. it was an amazing day sunny all day i actually got sunburned. heres a pic of the buck i landed.
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[wormsinker]

Nice catch how many fish was at the Challis hatchery.
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[chrome_junky]

that day it was 100 something hatchery and 30 something wilds but the count for the year 800 something not sure of the specific numbers.
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[wormsinker]

sounds like there way late. not last weekend but the one before there was around 600 if i remember right.
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[redbeard1]

Nice catch, it's to bad you couldn't keep them on you're fly rod long enough for the fun to begin, I used to despise fly fisherman until I lucked into one last spring, and now i'm hooked.
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[jigs]

I am trying to decide were i should head next week salmon or challis. If anyone has a report from either and wouldnt mind sharing pm me or post [laugh]. I am looking for night time temps. for i may be tenting it if i head to stanley, water clarity, and how close the ppl were on your right and left. I dont mind combat fishing but... well i am sure you all understand.
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[redbeard1]

I just got off the phone w/ my uncle, he just showed up today, he caught 2, my brother cuaght 4, and my gramps caught a biggie and lost a biggie, all around Challis to Salmon area. The water is a little murky but not bad, i'm hoping things stay good to because i'm planning on heading up next weekend also.
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[Belasko]

I'm headed up tomorow and plan to fish around Ellis on Saturday. I'll let you know what I find.
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[jigs]

what day are you coming back? I am heading up on tuesday I think we are heading up to stanley unless i hear something that changes my mind
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[Pointerpride102]

Hey Jigs if you end up hitting the Stanley area would you mind posting up a report. Doesn't need to be overly detailed on location, more so on tactics and water clarity. I'm headed to Stanley the 22-24th, hoping for clear water and boat loads of fish....nice weather would be a plus, but not required! Good luck up there.
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[ductaped4runner]

Not sure what to say about this trip. well if you read my other post you already know that challis hasn't produced anything for me in 2 trips. but neither has salmon so yeah i don't know what to say. the water in challis was a little murky but not to bad. the water has rose from the time i was there on sunday to thursday it rose about 6 inches to a foot. as far as what i was usin i was usein a black helgie with a silver, orange, or watermelon. i used roe. pink flies sucker meat. nightcrawler. jig and bobber. with a pink worm. i don't know what next. i'm at a loss. sooner or later its happen but yeah thats what i know it aint much but there it is.
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[jigs]

I have read so many reports of ppl on there first outing getting lucky and catching fish, your finding out the hard way that its not always that easy. Just keep your head up and it will happen eventualy.

I will sure post a report when i get back i am heading up tuesday and coming back friday i think i will have to post my report saturday, i am going to get home and head for a long night at work.
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[Rockjmpr]

Hey Redbeard, I'm headed out to do some steelhead fishing as well on the 18th weekend. I havn't fished the Challis area, where do you suggest? Also, how does that area compare to the Clearwater S/F this time of yr? Do you know how high up the south fork I can fish? is there a boundry where we have to stop fishing on S/F Clearwater?
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[Belasko]

I'm coming back on Sunday. It's really a family easter trip to see more family in Salmon. I just said that during the day I plan to fish and my wife said she wanted to go to, so off we're going! I should have a report posted before you leave Sunday. I just hope the rain doesn't muddy things up too much.
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[muskycoop]

Rockjmpr,

I'm not familiar with Challis but as for CW SF there is really only so far the fish can go because of natural barriers. Take a ride up the river to explore a little and you'll see what I mean. I had some buddies catch some of the nicest steelies in years up at Challis/Salmon area this year but have'n heard much on the CW SF yet.
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[tmas]

I hit Stanley area last night and today. Yesterday was a lot better than today...I didn't talk to anybody catching much today...i'm sure some guys got into some good fishing. We only managed a few with fins...didnt' come home with any. The water is still really clear but has risen about 2ft in a week. I talked to atleast six groups that were skunked! The hatchery picked up a lot of fish this week...seems to be a bit of a gap in the run...we couldn't even see fish in the river this time...last week we saw several in every hole we looked at. I hope it picks back up last week was amazing! I drove up the hatchery before I came home and there were a few fish by the bridge but the guys there said it was a lot worse than earlier in the week.
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[jigs]

what holes were you fishing if you dont mind me asking? I was a bit worried that this is what was going to happen when i saw how many fish were going in the hatchery. What were the temps like?
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[tmas]

I dont' know what the holes were called haha! I fished one about 3 miles below the yankee with a snowed in bridge...got a couple there. Then above the yankee we fished 3 or 4 holes witha couple local guys who know the streches well. I don't know what the water temps were but it was only 37 at the yankee at 6 am....and 55 this afternoon.
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[jigs]

i was wondering about the outside temp its actualy warmer than i thought. Hopefuly it will stay that way. I dont like having to clear my eyes after each cast. You said the ppl below the hatchery said it was slower than last week. Were they still catching fish?
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[Rockjmpr]

Hey thanks for the info Pointerpride, I'm headed out this weekend 18 Apr, trying not to waste a couple tanks of gas for nothing. Are you headed back to Stanley area this week or do you get up to S/F Clearwater much? This are my two toss-ups. I did great 1st weekend Apr on S/F Clearw so I'm being drawn back. Do you think Challis would be better?
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