Stanley Area Spring Steelhead Report:

April 23, 2008 Steelhead Fishing Report


Steelhead fishing in the Stanley area and on down towards Challis is still fairly productive. Many of the fish haved slowed down their upriver movement and are building redds. Fish are more inclined to be "closed mouthed" right now as they move into spawning mode but we are still hooking and landing fish.
Water temperatures have been up to the low 50'5 or more by afternoon and morning temps are much warmer than in the past two weeks. The other big change is that the water levels are coming up and are closer to the normal levels for this time of year. Water is "tea color" and one of the side streams about 25 miles downriver from Stanley was brown this morning so we may see some darker water in the lower section for a day or two. We are seeing new snow, rain and spring snow melt so anything could happen depending on weather in the last week of the season.
Presently, there are now about 1950 fish at the Sawtooth Hatchery. Predicted preseason numbers for this hatchery were about 2900 so more fish could be on the way. The season ends April 30 and there are still plenty of fish around to fish to unlike some years at this time.

To check out the numbers of fish into the Pahsimeroi and Sawtooth Hatcheries go to: www.idahosteelheadrun.com

Remember that only trout with a missing adipose fin may be kept. Any trout or steelhead with an adipose fin must be released unharmed back into the river.
Many of the fish we catch here are in our area are Westslope Cutthroat, native Rainbow trout and Bull Trout. These fish are native, natural fish and must be released. If you do not practice catch and release and prefer to keep fish, there are a few rainbows with missing adipose fins which can be kept. If you are fishing the Main Salmon River,please be sure to check the adipose fin and if the fish has one and is not a Mountain Whitefish or Brook trout, it must be released so please handle it carefully and let it go to catch another day. Consider fishing only with a single barless hook to increase survival rates of the native fish. Hatchery stocked, catch and keep rainbow trout will be missing the adipose fin. Middle Fork tributaries are CATCH & RELEASE only.