Idaho steelhead fishing on the Salmon River

Idaho Steelhead Fishing Report by Gregg Prossen

Angler: Gregg M Prossen
Outfitter: Salmon River Steelhead Fishing in Idaho
Date: October, 2018

This outfitter is a class act. He knows his river, he knows steelhead fishing, and more importantly, knows how to swing it with the two handers.  There’s some beautiful swing water up there on the Salmon River in Idaho! Sam and I hammered it for three days, essentially at first light to 6:00 or 6:30 pm.  Brent had an excellent camp setup and the man can cook!  Nothing we didn’t need……except for steelhead.  Even spent a little time skating a dry fly!

Didn’t realize there’s so many “plug pullers” out there, sitting in their big inboard jet boats.  Didn’t see anyone else on the river with a fly rod.

I’d do this fishing trip again in a heartbeat.

The water was fantastic, scenery even better and Brent was over the top.  Idaho is a cool place.  Boise is a nice town.  Really liked McCall and took a chance and stopped by Ruby’s for breakfast.  Great staff, food and vibe.

Brent did put us on a little area to explore on our way back to Boise….Payette River south of McCall where we spent the better part of day swinging the river with three wt trout spey rods.  We killed it and I picked up the biggest bow on my 3wt ever…..swinging a little black leech.

Next up…steelhead fishing on the Skeena River in British Columbia, Canada, then Alaska steelhead in the Fall. Maybe in the opposite order. I just read Patrick’s trip report for the Alaska trip.

Things I’d do different next time:

  • Bring a head lamp
  • Bring a trout spey for on the way up and back to Boise
  • Pick my three days on the Salmon Tues-Thurs or Mon-Wed to avoid the weekend plug pullers
  • Bring an extra set of under wader wear (I did fall in on day 1)
  • Bring my aluminum bar bottom Patagonia boots or maybe even felt sole boots with studs.  The wade fishing in certain runs on the Salmon is really difficult with different size rounded rocks (some pretty slippery).

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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
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