Idaho ·
Salmon River Fly Fishing Report - September 20, 2026
SALMON RIVER
ReportSEP 20 — 27, 2026
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Flow
1230CFS
SALMON RIVER AT SALMON ID
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Water Temp
—
Updated 2026-09-19
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Weather
42–78°F
Areas Of Fog
💧
Clarity
Clear
Check post-storm
Flow is running at 1,230 CFS with a gauge height of 2.36 ft — up from last week's 889 CFS but still clear and very fishable for fall Chinook moving through. Fog clears by 10 AM Sunday ahead of a sunny 73°F afternoon with calm winds, setting up an excellent all-day window.
What's Working — Hot Flies
Egan's Poacher - Olive #12
#12
Egan's Poacher - Black #12
#12
Coffey's CH Sparkle Minnow Sculpin #6
#6
Joe's Mini Crayfish Jig #6
#6
Tungsten Pat's Rubber Legs - Tan & Brown #6
#6
Wiggly Worm (TBH) #8
#8
Slush Egg Apricot - 14 #14
#14
Parachute - Blue Wing Olive #22
#22
Juju Baetis Tungsten #22
#22
Black Zebra Midge(TBH) #20
#20
Bionic Ant 2.0 - Black #16
#16
Corn-fed Caddis (CDC) Tan #20
#20
Hatch Chart
| Insect | Size | Activity | Prime Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook Salmon (actively migrating) | N/A | Heavy | 6 AM - 10 AM |
| Blue-Winged Olive (Baetis) | 18-22 | Moderate | 10 AM - 2 PM |
| Midge | 20-24 | Moderate | 8 AM - 11 AM |
| Caddis | 16-20 | Light | 5 PM - 7 PM |
| Terrestrials (Ants) | 14-16 | Light | 11 AM - 3 PM |
Best Time Window
- 6 AM - 10 AM: Prime salmon window during low-light fog — swing streamers and dead-drift eggs through travel corridors before fish become line-shy.
- 10 AM - 2 PM: BWO and midge hatch peaks as fog clears; switch to small nymphs and dry flies for trout in the slower inside seams.
- 5 PM - 7 PM: Evening caddis activity in the riffles — work dry caddis patterns along the current edges for opportunistic trout as light fades.
Guide's Tip
From the benchWith flow up to 1,230 CFS and Chinook actively moving, focus your salmon presentations in the transition zones between fast and slow water — the bucket at the tail of a riffle or the soft seam along a gravel bar. Get your fly to the bottom quickly; in this flow, salmon won't rise far to eat. For trout, work the inside edges and eddies behind salmon holding lies, where dislodged invertebrates and eggs concentrate. The fog burns off by 10 AM, so be on the water at first light for the best salmon action before fish go line-shy in the bright midday sun.
Main Species
Steelhead
Chinook Salmon
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
