Middle Fork Salmon River, Idaho Float Fishing Adventure

Your Middle Fork of the Salmon River wilderness adventure is more than whitewater. This float can make for an incredibly relaxing family vacation. It has something for everyone in the family, and if you like to fish, the fly fishing for wild cutthroat trout is INCREDIBLE! In fact, the Middle Fork is famous for its Blue Ribbon fly fishing for cutthroat trout.

On your trip, you’ll catch and release literally hundreds of wild Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, Bull trout, juvenile salmon and steelhead, and whitefish. You can fish from the boats, camps, or the many stops you’ll make throughout the day. If you are just learning the art of fishing, the guides are willing and knowledgeable instructors.

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Destination

Idaho

The Fishing

You will be fishing for wild Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, and whitefish which range from 4-18 inches in length.

Fly fishing or spin casting equipment are both acceptable. You must fish with artificial fly or lure with a single barbless hook. Lures with treble hook must have 2 hooks removed and flatten barb on the third. For flies you only have to flatten the barb.

All fishing on the Middle Fork is catch and release.

The Middle Fork Salmon River

The wild, free flowing Middle Fork of the Salmon River is located in one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48. If you float the entire Middle Fork of the Salmon, your whitewater float trip will be five or six days and up to 100 miles! For a wilderness experience, you will be surprised how comfortable your guides will keep you during your float. You will have all of the amenities you need.

The Middle Fork is teeming with wildlife, including: Bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mule deer, bears, wolves, and many smaller animals including the always popular river otter. A bird watchers paradise, you will see a multitude of birds as well.

The Guides

A good guide is what will make or break a trip, and this outfitter has the best guides around. First and foremost, they are there to keep you safe on your adventure. Your job on this trip is to relax, enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer and have a great time. They are licensed boatmen with whitewater rescue and first aid training. But aside from that, they are ideal hosts, fun, gracious, great at navigating whitewater, helping you fish, have exceptional outdoor culinary skills, and not to mention great storytellers.

When to Go

The Middle Fork of the Salmon River has over one hundred classified rapids with several of the highest being Class 4 and the rest being Class 1 to 3. The guides work hard to strike a balance between fun and safety. Traditionally, the highest water levels are late May and early June. This is the time to come for the big water.

If you want a “mellower” trip come later in the summer. By the end of June the water levels have usually dropped considerably, but there is still plenty of action. Many of the rapids are actually more fun at lower levels.

Getting There

These wilderness float trips usually begin and end in Stanley, Idaho. You will need to make your own room reservations in Stanley for the night before the trip begins, along with the night of your return back to Stanley at the end of the trip.

Species

Salmon, Steelhead, Trout, Whitefish

Destination

Idaho

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There's a reason I keep booking this steelhead fishing trip!
Second time I’ve done this particular trip. The steelhead run was awesome! The food was even better than the first time, which is hard to imagine, and our guide is the best there is! If catching big fish is your thing I highly recommend booking through Outdoors International.
Ernie Sorenson
Mark Stasz with a great dorado.
We had an incredible time fishing in Mexico. We've already booked our next trip and can't wait to go back!
Mark Stasz
Greg Pope with a Strobel Lake rainbow trout.

I expected big trout on this trip based on all the stories I've read over the years, and I was not disappointed! I broke my own personal best rainbow trout record at least SIX times on this trip, with the biggest being a 16 pound beauty.

I will be going again soon!

Greg Pope