Steelhead?

[FiShsMelON]

If a guy was gonna go steelhead fishing this weekend where (If anyone would be gracious enough to tell) would he go, coming from boise area and what would be the best gear? (for a non fly fisherman, I have a steelhead pole and reel), also would I need to take the 4x4?
(trying to save on gas)

Thank You for your help!
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[iliketofish]

Hey there,

I'm certainly no authority on steelhead, I've been out once this year so far and I got skunked. But here's the website that I always check for steelhead conditions throughout the state. [url "http://www.idfishnhunt.com/steelrpt.htm"]http://www.idfishnhunt.com/steelrpt.htm[/url]

It's a pretty good website, updated once a week. On reading it, it sounds like Callis is the place to go, or the North or South Fork of the Clearwater. I realize none of those places is close to Boise [crazy]. Hope this helps.
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[Perry3]

Hey Fishsmelon,

You won't need a 4x4. All the good rivers are along major highways. As Iliketofish said, most places are not close to Boise. Riggins is about the closest with a 3 hour drive and you can probably sleep in a tent this time of year. The town of Salmon is probably closer to six hours this time of year. We used to make day trips to Riggins and Stanley which made for a long day. I've never fished down by Salmon or Challis just because of the distance. Perhaps you can tent it this time of the year. YOu definitely can't at Stanley. A motel is the best bet now that I'm a bit older.

Have you fished for steelhead or salmon? It may take you a few trips to figure it out. Find the groups of steelheaders and watch them for awhile to get an idea. This time of year when the snow starts to melt it may be tough fishing. High muddy water is a waste of time. For one, you are fishing the very bottom and it's hard to get to in high water, secondly, you want the fish to see your presentation! I called Riggins tackle shop on a Friday night and conditions were good, the next morning when we rolled into town the water was as muddy as a milkshake, things can change overnight.

The closest places to fish is Riggins, either along the Little Salmon North of New Meadows or down at the main Salmon River at the park in the middle of town, or Shorts Bar just upstream from town with many holes above and below.

I always check out the F&G's weekly report before I go, anything under 10 hours is usually awesome fishing. We hook into quite a few more than one in that 10 hour span. They cruise upstream in schools, find the 10 hour per fish report, lots of anglers, and that's where the school was last week. Looks like the main Salmon River North of Stanley below where the Pahsimeroi River empties into it is the best bet, however a long drive. There is a hatchery on the Pahsimeroi and that may be where most of the fish are headed. I have done well upstream from there below Sunbeam Dam, Four Aces Hole and where Redfish Creek empties into the Salmon River this time of year. There is another hatchery just upstream from Redfish Lake where schools and are also headed. Wild steelhead will continue upstream as the Salmon River continues towards the base of Galena Summit.

Spring steelhead I use a corky, yarn and and a good sized gob of salmon roe wrapped inside nyon stockings or roe netting.

Be sure to call the local tackle shop for water conditions and where to go the day before you head out!! They also have daily reports from fisherman. When you get there, stop in and buy a couple rolls of lead from the tackle shop and ask them where you should go from there. If you haven't fished steelhead, ask them to show you the setup.

The best holes always have a bunch of people fishing them. Watch for a lot of cars parked along the highway. You have to get used to fishing shoulder to shoulder which really isn't too bad after you get accustomed to it. You can find new friends, watch others catching fish and learn from them, or seeing fish being caught boosts your confidence level and is always fun. I sometimes try to find a good hole up or downstream from where everyone else is fishing however.

Sorry for the long rant. I could have gone on much longer! Dang, now you've got me wanting to go. Good luck! Let us know how you did. Here's the weekly harvest website: [url "http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/fish/steelhead/weekly_harv.cfm"]http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/fish/steelhead/weekly_harv.cfm[/url]
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[windriver]

Welcome to the site Perry3. Good to have a steelheader on board. That is one area that I know almost nothing about.

Windriver
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[FiShsMelON]

[] Thank you very much for your reply Absolutley Fantastic, I could have read on for much longer[] It is very informative!
I have never fished for salmon or steelhead but on your advice I will have a flashlight in the unknown[laugh]

Is this the 10 hr per fish report?

[url "http://www.idahosteelheadrun.com/"]http://www.idahosteelheadrun.com/[/url]
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[Perry3]

Thanks windriver!

That is a cool website you found there fishsmelon. I added it to my Favorites.

Looks like 178 steelhead were caught in the fish trap at the Sawtooth hatchery on Monday. That's quite a few fish in one day. I'd head in that direction, as it's another two hour drive from Stanley to Pahsimeroi. Call McCoy's tackle shop in Stanley, 208-774-3377 for water conditions and where to go. Then maybe stop by there and ask him to show you how to set up your riggin. Good luck!!
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[tech29]

I was up to salmon last week and the water was the clearest that I have seen it this time of year. Fishing wasn't bad either. The fish are spread out from stanley down river as far as you can go. Be careful about the report on the fish and game website. It depends on where the fish and game has their trailers set up on the accuracy of this report. Last weeks report says that in area 15 there was a total of 12 fish caught. Personaly a friend and I got lucky and hooked 9 fish and landed 8 of them on sunday. The check station that far down river was packed up and gone. Therefore the census down river is off by a mile. Everyone is fishing from challis down to salmon. Perry3's comments are right on the money.[] People really pile up where fish are being caught. Don't be afraid to get in there and fish. Most everyone is fine with being shoulder to shoulder. All you need to remember is to be courteous to everyone else and if someone close to you hooks a fish, quit fishing and let the person get it in. I have heard a lot of harsh words and seen bad feelings towards some good people just because someone wasn't thinking and cast over someones line that was fighting a fish. [pirate] Anywhere you go there, I think that you will have a good chance of catching fish, that is if you go that way instead of riggings. I am also leaving for salmon again in the morning. I will probably be fishing at the pahsimeroi where it runs into the main salmon. I will be in the alumacraft across the river from everyone else lined up on the bank. If you happen to head this way and find the pahsimeroi, let out a yell if you see me.[] Good luck on whatever you decide and don't give up on these steelies too soon. If you've ever hooked one, you will understand. The sheer power of these fish are unbelievable. Right now any orange fly like a glo bug or any egg pattern would also work. I have a friend that swears on a red 1/0 gamakatsu hook with flourescent green yarn on it with any kind of stink that you can find that is fish related. And just like Perry3 said, a corky with a big gobb of roe works great also, but is a little messy. Anyway as with perry, I have also ranted on long enough. Good luck and tight lines this weekend to everyone.[cool]
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