Middle Fork Salmon River, Idaho Float Fishing Adventure
Your Middle Fork of the Salmon River wilderness adventure is more than whitewater. This float can make for an incredibly relaxing family vacation. It has something for everyone in the family, and if you like to fish, the fly fishing for wild cutthroat trout is INCREDIBLE! In fact, the Middle Fork is famous for its Blue Ribbon fly fishing for cutthroat trout.
On your trip, you’ll catch and release literally hundreds of wild Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, Bull trout, juvenile salmon and steelhead, and whitefish. You can fish from the boats, camps, or the many stops you’ll make throughout the day. If you are just learning the art of fishing, the guides are willing and knowledgeable instructors.
| Destination | Idaho |
|---|---|
| The Fishing | You will be fishing for wild Cutthroat trout, Rainbow trout, and whitefish which range from 4-18 inches in length. Fly fishing or spin casting equipment are both acceptable. You must fish with artificial fly or lure with a single barbless hook. Lures with treble hook must have 2 hooks removed and flatten barb on the third. For flies you only have to flatten the barb. All fishing on the Middle Fork is catch and release. |
| The Middle Fork Salmon River | The wild, free flowing Middle Fork of the Salmon River is located in one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48. If you float the entire Middle Fork of the Salmon, your whitewater float trip will be five or six days and up to 100 miles! For a wilderness experience, you will be surprised how comfortable your guides will keep you during your float. You will have all of the amenities you need. The Middle Fork is teeming with wildlife, including: Bighorn sheep, moose, elk, mule deer, bears, wolves, and many smaller animals including the always popular river otter. A bird watchers paradise, you will see a multitude of birds as well. |
| The Guides | A good guide is what will make or break a trip, and this outfitter has the best guides around. First and foremost, they are there to keep you safe on your adventure. Your job on this trip is to relax, enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer and have a great time. They are licensed boatmen with whitewater rescue and first aid training. But aside from that, they are ideal hosts, fun, gracious, great at navigating whitewater, helping you fish, have exceptional outdoor culinary skills, and not to mention great storytellers. |
| When to Go | The Middle Fork of the Salmon River has over one hundred classified rapids with several of the highest being Class 4 and the rest being Class 1 to 3. The guides work hard to strike a balance between fun and safety. Traditionally, the highest water levels are late May and early June. This is the time to come for the big water. If you want a “mellower” trip come later in the summer. By the end of June the water levels have usually dropped considerably, but there is still plenty of action. Many of the rapids are actually more fun at lower levels. |
| Getting There | These wilderness float trips usually begin and end in Stanley, Idaho. You will need to make your own room reservations in Stanley for the night before the trip begins, along with the night of your return back to Stanley at the end of the trip. |
| Species | Rainbow Trout, Salmon, Steelhead, Whitefish |
| State/Province | Idaho |
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Kent Goodman –
We floated from the pine trees high in the mountains in central Idaho and each day the scenery would change as we dropped in altitude. One day we went through the “Impassable Canyon”, it was like something out of Lord of the Rings, absolutely stunning sheer rock walls and cliffs thousands of feet high and certainly impassable by all accept boats.
Fishing was a highlight for me, the cutthroat trout were plentiful and eager to take dry flies at all times of the day. I built a casting platform on top of a big cooler and stood up could see the fish coming for the fly before they ate it, what a thrill. Camps were on the bank of the river and super clean well maintained.
I loved the family atmosphere on this trip. We took a bunch of dads and sons on this trip and it was the best to just all be together doing adventurous things. I’d love to take the entire family again!