The Department of Fish and Game has documented the first Chinook harvested from the Salmon River in the area between the Time Zone Bridge and Hammer Creek. While this is exciting news, overall the fishing in the Riggins area is still very slow due to the high, dirty flows that are slowing the migration of the Chinook; it’s likely this will remain for awhile still.
Typically the Salmon River has 3 peaks in the spring; low/mid-elevation snow pack melt, mid-elevation snow pack melt and high elevation snow pack melt. On Monday May 16, the Salmon River experienced its first peak of 62,800 CFS at 10 am Mountain Time and if NOAA is correct, we’ll see the second peak during the first part of next week. Salmon River flow, currently at 54,200 CFS, is on the rise with NOAA predicting the peak – sometime between Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30 – at above 68,000 CFS. Predictions for the final BIG peak are setting in for 97,000 CFS. Folks, that’s a BIG flush! To put that number into perspective, in the 14 years my family has owned this business, we have never seen a flow of this magnitude and its predicted flow isn’t far from the historical high flow of 130,000 CFS. As I keep saying, keep your fingers crossed that the high water season does not prove problematic for this fishery.
Fish numbers continue to stay level at Bonneville Dam with the daily average at 1000 fish per day; the year to date count at Bonneville Dame, as of May 23, is at 159,389. Lower Granite is seeing a daily average count of about 1500 fish per day and had a big big day on May 20 with over 3500 fish crossing; Lower Granite’s year to date count, as of May 23, is at 32,207. These numbers are just a few thousand short of the 10 year average and are far better than the initial prediction from the Department of Fish and Game. Even more exciting is the number of jacks coming back to the Idaho river systems! Only in one other year, since the Department of Fish and Game have been counting jacks, have they seen higher return numbers. With that information, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has raised the daily limit to 6 Chinook (2 adults & 4 jacks) for 2011′s spring Chinook salmon season on the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. Only hatchery salmon can be harvested and closing dates will be announced by the Department of Fish and Game when harvest quotas are met.
Exodus Wilderness Adventures offers guided Chinook salmon fishing trips on the Salmon River by drift boat or jet boat. Full day and half day trips are available. For more information on our fishing trips or to reserve your trip please call us toll free at 1-800-992-3484 or email us at riverescape@frontier.com. We look forward to fishing with you soon.
Exodus Wilderness Adventures offers guided Fishing Trips, by drift boat or 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, or reserve your Fishing Trip online today!
