Winter caught up to us this weekend; air temperature dropped, snow fell from the sky and there was not a lot of sun. Even though the nights were below freezing, daily temperatures remained in the 40’s and the river is still very fishable – and fishing quite well! The Salmon River is free of ice, clear with great visibility and current river flow is 4190 CFS with a water temperature of 34 degrees. Our Riggins weather forecast, for this week, shows mostly sunny days and clear nights with a 20% chance of rain on Wednesday night. Expect daytime highs in the upper 30’s to mid 40’s and evening and early morning lows in the mid 20’s to low 30’s.
Exodus guide Brent Sawyer snapped this pic of Sara Wiemerslage and Gary Hawbaker from their November 29 trip. Nice hatchery steelhead!
Remember that winter fishing in Riggins is often when the monster steelhead are caught. If you are from the higher elevations, it can also be your chance to get out of the snow and put your boots on dirt or into a heated jet boat. Call your favorite outfitter, tackle shop or good friend and inquire about the river conditions and then remember this helpful hint: as water temperatures drop, you want to downsize your presentation to the fish. If you are drifting bait from the bank or a boat, minimal is your friend; use small amounts of bait (cured eggs or shrimp), a corky and a small piece of yarn. If you are pulling plugs, use slow action, deep diving plugs. Tight lines, everyone!
On to the Exodus Steelhead Creel report for the week of November 27 to December 3, 2011. 17 people fished with Exodus, hooking into 34 steelhead (that’s 2 fish per person) and landing 25 (or 1.5 fish per person)! The Most Fish Shoutout is a bit tricky this week: Joseph & Erica Feider and Dean Dallas from Boise hooked into and landed 6 fish on a morning half-day trip on Sunday, November 27 with drift boat guide Brent Sawyer, then Doug Becker from Boise hooked into 7 fish and landed 5 on Thursday, December 1, with drift boat guide Norm Klobetanz. We think it’s a toss up – what do you say?
AND, if you A) are a boy, and B) have a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, significant other or niece fishing in the Woman with Bait tournament in 2012, Exodus Wilderness Adventures is offering you $10.00 off your charter when you fish with Exodus from February 1 until March 3.
Exodus Wilderness Adventures offers Full-day and Half-day guided Fishing Trips on Idaho’s Salmon River, by drift boat or heated jet boat, based on your party size and preference. As always, an experienced guide, lunch, snacks, hot/cold beverages and all fishing equipment are included.
- Drift boat rate is $205.00/person.
- Jet boat rate is $1175.00/boat.
Learn more about seasons, fly or spin fishing, and drift or jet boat trips here.
Call us at 1-800-992-3484, email us at riverescape@frontier.com, or reserve your Fishing Trip online today!
