Idaho Fishing Reports ยท Salmon Region
Around Riggins, the lower Salmon River is a big canyon river with a strong steelhead run from fall into spring.
Looking for the latest Lower Salmon River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Lower Salmon River (Riggins).
Current flows
Wind forecast
Lower Salmon River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
Steelhead are in the river. Check that the season is open on this reach.
Swing or nymph the soft edges and tailouts, and fish the slower water near the Little Salmon confluence.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Riggins, bring: Egg #8-12, Woolly Bugger #2-6, Pat', s Rubber Legs #4-8, Pheasant Tail Nymph #12-14, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Black Beauty #20-24, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Lower Salmon River details
| Access | US-95 follows the river near Riggins, plus the Salmon River Road upstream to Vinegar Creek. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 1,800 ft |
| Nearest town | Riggins, Idaho |
| Best season | Fall through spring for steelhead |
| Fish | Steelhead, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout |
| Regulations | Steelhead and salmon seasons open and close by river reach, and a steelhead permit is required. Check the Idaho Department of Fish and Game seasons and rules before you go. An Idaho fishing license is required for anglers 14 and older, plus a steelhead or salmon permit where those fish are targeted. |
| Leaders and tippet | Sink tips or indicator rigs, 0X to 2X tippet |
| Camping | BLM and Forest Service camps upstream of Riggins |
| Kids | Partly. A big, powerful river. |
| Good to know | Riggins is crowded on steelhead weekends. Go midweek. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Steelhead.
Spring
Spring steelhead.
Summer
Smallmouth and trout.
Fall
Steelhead arrive.
How to get there
From Boise, take State Highway 55 and US-95 north to Riggins.