the bent rod

Fishing Report

Salmon River Steelhead

There are definitely steelhead here now, but the fishing has been a bit slow due to cold temperatures the last couple of weeks. Fishing has been mostly occurring downstream of Challis, in the Ellis/Deer Gulch area, but fishermen were observed yesterday upstream of Challis, towards Clayton. No reports have come from upstream yet, and fishing through town to down to Ellis is somewhat hampered by ice in the river. Two customers in the store this morning reported each catching a fish last weekend in the Ellis area, and they have come back for more this weekend. Drifting eggs seems to be what most fishermen we’ve talked to are using, but the usual black flies drifted near the bottom should work too, as well as spoons and jigs under floats.