From late October to mid-March, the Salmon River around Riggins turns into steelhead water. If you have never fished for steelhead before, or never fished this river in winter, a guided trip is the easiest way to learn it. Here is what a guided steelhead fishing trip with Wild River Adventures looks like, from what to wear to what happens when a fish hits.
When steelhead season runs
Steelhead are sea-run rainbow trout. They spend part of their lives in the Pacific Ocean, then swim hundreds of miles inland to return to Idaho rivers. On the Salmon near Riggins, the fish hold in the canyon through the cold months, and we run guided steelhead trips daily from late October through mid-March.
Every run is different. Numbers change from year to year, and Idaho Fish and Game sets the seasons and limits, so check the current rules before you go.
Licenses and permits
Every angler needs an Idaho fishing license and a steelhead permit. You can buy both online from Idaho Fish and Game. Buy them before your trip so you are not hunting for a signal in the canyon on the morning you fish.
How the day works
- Meet at our shop. Trips start at 7:30 AM from our shop at 419 N Main St in Riggins. Plan to arrive a few minutes early.
- Head to the river. You fish from a drift boat with your guide on the oars. Your guide picks the water based on flows, clarity, and where the fish have been holding that week.
- Fish the runs. Steelhead like to hold in seams, riffles, and buckets where the current slows. Your guide will set you up and coach you through every drift.
- Land your fish. When a steelhead hits, it is one of the best fights in freshwater fishing. Your guide will talk you through the fight and help you land it.
Our private steelhead trips are booked for up to two anglers. Have a bigger group? Contact us and we will see what we can set up.
How we fish for steelhead
Your guide provides the rods, tackle, and bait. In cold water, steelhead often get sluggish, so slow, deliberate presentations tend to work best. Two techniques we lean on:
- Plugs. Diving plugs work the water in front of the fish, and their wobble draws strikes from fish that might ignore other offerings.
- Shrimp and divers. A cured shrimp fished behind a diver adds scent and keeps the bait in the strike zone, which helps when the bite is slow.
Steelhead fishing here uses barbless hooks. Hatchery steelhead, which have a clipped adipose fin, may be kept within Idaho limits. Wild steelhead, with the adipose fin intact, are released. For more on timing and techniques, read our Salmon River steelhead guide.
What to wear and bring
Winter in the canyon can be cold, wet, and windy, and you will be sitting in a boat most of the day. Dress in layers:
- A warm base layer, a fleece or puffy mid layer, and a waterproof outer jacket and pants
- Warm, waterproof boots and wool socks
- A warm hat, gloves, and a spare pair of gloves
- Polarized sunglasses to help you see into the water
- Water, snacks, and a thermos of something hot
- Your fishing license and steelhead permit
No glass on the river, and soft-sided coolers are fine.
Make a winter weekend of it
Riggins is quiet in the winter, and that is part of the appeal. Fewer people, empty highways, and a canyon all to yourself. It is about an hour from McCall and roughly three hours from Boise, which makes a steelhead trip an easy weekend. See fishing near McCall and trips from Boise for drive details.
Book your steelhead trip
Ready to hook a Salmon River steelhead? Book a guided steelhead trip, see all of our fishing trips, or call us at (208) 995-0181 with questions about conditions and dates.
