Home > Idaho Fishing Trips > Best Times to Flyfish in Idaho

Trout fly fishing on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with Aggipah's fly fishing outfitters is primarily a summer activity. The fly fishing season is open year-round, with some Middle Fork Salmon River fly fishing opportunity in late April or early May before the river begins to rise from snow-melt. In normal years, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is too high to effectively fish from late May through mid-June. Trout fly fishing is better at river levels below about four feet on the gauge, which in a normal water year means late June to early July on through the summer. In low water years, the river can be low enough to fly fish for trout throughout June, and fishing is good then.

Fly fishing trips in Idaho during July and August, water temperatures are typically mid-fifties through sixties, with about five degrees increase from daylight until mid-afternoon, and similar loss overnight. Salmon River temperature increases as the trip progresses, with loss of elevation, and also increases as the snow run-off decreases toward mid-summer. During the heat of the summer, late July to early August, the river temperature can reach 70, especially in low-water years. Trout fly fishing slows greatly at that temperature. However, 70 degrees is not an every-year event. July and August are the driest two months, with normally clear water. September is often touted as a good fishing month, and it is, but the chance of rain increases. With rain comes the chance of runoff from areas of recent forest fires, creating muddy, unfishable water. Often storms producing run-off are very localized, with a particular tributary causing the river to be off-color, but other tributary streams may be fishable. There are several tributary streams that are large enough to fish, with a trail along them. After September, weather becomes pretty chilly for camping and white water, and there is little activity on the river. By late October, there is often ice floating down the river.

Fly fishing trips on the Middle Fork with Aggipah's river guides. The Middle Fork of the Salmon is a wilderness river, one hundred miles between road accesses. A typical Middle Fork river float trip last six days. Most people travel in inflatable boats, but the classic Middle Fork Salmon River fly fishing trip uses McKenzie River drift boats. These boats have been used since the beginning of floating on the Middle Fork in the late 30s, brought over from Oregon by outfitters and guides such as the Helfrichs and Pruitts. McKenzie boats were developed to fish in fast water. They are very responsive, comfortable--and fragile. Inflatable boats, both conventional and cataraft styles, are often equipped with knee braces, etc, to facilitate fly fishing. If kept light, they are nearly as nimble as a McKenzie, more forgiving of the occasional bumped rock, and can be flown into a river-side airstrip during low-water conditions. They are functional, but they are not as comfortable, convenient, or as dry in white water as a McKenzie. If you drop your scissors in an inflatable, they are in the bilge under a tube or the bottom of the river. An unexpected wave can wash unsecured tackle over the side, while that is much less likely in a McKenzie. And there is something special about a McKenzie River drift boat in fast water.

Aggipah's Idaho fly fishing guides primary objective on the Middle Fork is West slope cut-throat trout. The Middle Fork is in a granite drainage and has relatively low mineral content, as well as many months of cold water. Cut-throat mature at 12-15 inches here, and rarely exceed that length. There are also a lot of steelhead smolts, about 7-8 inches, resembling small rainbow trout. There are occasional mature, native rainbows similar in size to the cut-throat. If you fish deep, you will catch bull trout, especially with spinners. We seldom take them on top with dry flies. While fish aren’t huge, numbers are pretty good. Thirty to forty fish per day per boat is a reasonable expectation. With good fishing and good fishermen, that can be doubled.

Trout fly fishing does not offer a great deal of surface activity on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Occasionally on the upper river there will be very heavy caddis hatches, but still not a lot of surface activity by fish. There are salmon fly hatches, but not of the scale of the southwest Montana streams. Later in the summer there is a lot of grasshopper activity. The Middle Fork provides good dry-fly opportunity, with fish being not especially particular. Matching fly to particular emerging insects is not a major issue. Common patterns are elk-hair caddis, parachute adams, stimulators, grasshoppers, and humpies--but many flies will work just fine. I mostly use a simple elkhair caddis, size 8, with a red body. Some people scoff at that as being old-fashioned and obsolete, but if fishing is slow the situation is rarely improved by a different pattern. For fishermen who can handle a dropper, adding a beadhead (copper john, pheasant tail, etc.) can be very effective. It can also be a pain in the neck (literally) if casting skill is a little rough--may be more trouble than it is worth.

I have always been more concerned about placement of the fly than pattern. Tournament-distance casting is not necessary if the boatman does his job. A moderate length but accurate cast is all that is needed. Wind is usually not an issue on the Middle Fork. A five-weight rod works very well. A heavier rod can get tiring after a long day. Usual fishing water includes eddy lines, cushions above rocks, and next to cliffs.

Aggipah River Trips provide knowledgeable Idaho fishing guides Not all river companies are particularly interested in fishing. With some outfitters, unless arrangements are made for a fishing-focused trip, you may be on your own, fishing from camp or from a loaded inflatable boat as you float in mid-stream. Your boatman may be a fisherman, or may not know a fly from a spinner. Other outfitters are totally focused on fishing. While many Aggipah clients do not fish, we can provide special fishing boats, and help fishermen on larger boats. Aggipah fishing guides often provide fly casting lessons for those who are interested.

A pitfall of fishing the Middle Fork of the Salmon River is that a person easily becomes so absorbed by the fishing that the beauty of a mile-deep canyon passes by unnoticed.

Idaho Fly Fishing Trips with

Middle Fork of Salmon River Fly Fishing Outfitters

Call Aggipah River Trips 208-756-4167

Trout Fishing Idaho

4 Day Fishing Trip

$2000 includes fishing tackle (for 2 fisherman)

Trout Fishing Idaho

6 Day Fishing Trip

$2500 including fishing tackle (for 2 fisherman)

June 13, 22

July 9, 17, 25

August 2, 10. 18