Sign inSign up freeRecent catches at Salmon River (Upper)
Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.
Fishing Salmon River (Upper): what the data says
Stanley to Challis. the River of No Return: steelhead in spring, cutthroat and chinook water all summer. The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Steelhead fishing at Salmon River (Upper)
Start shallow in spring: steelhead sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 1 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 19.2): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Salmon River (Upper)
Spring chinook salmon on Salmon River (Upper) hold shallow, usually 1 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Sunbeam Dam tailrace, a dam tailrace in about 9 ft of water that rates prime for chinook salmon in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Salmon River (Upper)
In spring, rainbow trout run shallow here, mostly 3 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. Current seam (mile 19.2) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 6 ft, rated prime for spring rainbow trout. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Salmon River (Upper)
Start shallow in spring: cutthroat trout sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 19.2): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Notable structure
- Sunbeam Dam tailrace: dam tailrace, around 9 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 4.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 14.9): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 17.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 21.1): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 23.3): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 25.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 27.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 29.8): creek channel, around 8 ft
Common questions
How deep is Salmon River (Upper)?
Salmon River (Upper) is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Salmon River (Upper)?
Anglers target rainbow trout, chinook salmon, steelhead, cutthroat trout on Salmon River (Upper).
Where is the best fishing spot on Salmon River (Upper)?
Current seam (mile 19.2) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for steelhead in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Salmon River (Upper)?
For steelhead, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Anderson Ranch Reservoir · Arrowrock Reservoir · Cascade Reservoir · Henrys Fork · Snake River (South Fork) · Palisades Reservoir
See how Salmon River (Upper) stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Idaho · best cutthroat trout lakes in Idaho
Browse all Idaho fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.