Steelhead Fishing Stanley Idaho

Stanley Idaho is teaming with fishermen this April and May as there are many Steelhead in the Main Salmon.  If you’re looking for some of the world’s best fishing, Salmon River Idaho has hundreds of stellar spots, but the area around Stanley is the best it has been in years. The steelhead of the Salmon River offer a challenge to even the most seasoned fishermen. Several experienced fishermen have described Idaho steelhead fishing as the best in Idaho; a glimpse of fishing Nirvana. So what’s so special about the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho?

First off: the fish. Steelhead are a variety Rainbow Trout that, unlike their Rainbow cousins, are hardcore enough to swim from the ocean to the depths of the inland. In a way, they form a kind of halfway point between Rainbow Trout and Pacific Salmon.  The steelhead swim up almost 900 miles from the ocean to reach the Stanley area of Idaho.  That means they have too swim around 8 dams to get to Stanley, Idaho.  They commonly grow up to a foot and a half in length — but in the Salmon River Canyon, where prey is common and space is abundant, they can get up to thirty inches long. But the Steelhead are just one reason that fishing in Stanley Idaho is such a treat.  The scenery is the best in all of Idaho if not the entire lower 48.  Haines, Alaska would be a top spot as well.  It is in the Lynn Canal north of Juneau and the starting point for River trips on the Tatshenshini and Alsek rivers.  If you ever want to go, give us a call and we’ll send you in the right direction for an outfitter up in Haines, AK.  But back to Idaho

There’s also the fact that there are just so many fish in Idaho. It’s hard to find anywhere on Earth with as many fish per square mile as the Gem State. Around the country, much of their habitat has been or is being destroyed, so many kinds of fish are in danger of becoming endangered. Many are also suffering from enteric redmouth, a disease that’s harmless to humans but devastates fish. Redmouth has even gotten into hatcheries, making our efforts to repopulate the rarer fish quite the challenge. These struggles aren’t affecting Idaho as badly as other places, which is part of what makes fishing Idaho such an excellent pastime.

There’s one more thing that makes Idaho rivers a perfect place to fish — the scenery. Half of the reason to fish at all is to enjoy a quiet time exposed some of nature’s beautiful handiwork, and places like the Salmon River in Stanley, Idaho are just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the man-made world that they have that special quality to them.

If you love to fish, there’s no better place on Earth than the rivers of Idaho.  Then again, just being in Stanley Idaho is an amazing time with so many outdoor activities in the Sawtooth Mountains.  Steelhead fishing is happening right now, with a bumper crop of fish this year.  Or come this summer and join MFRE on the Middle Fork of the Salmon for cutthroat trout fishing from 16′ Mckenzie Drift boats.  They are made by Hog Island and offer the most comfortable and stable ride out there, with huge casting braces to slay all the fish your heart desires.  Or come after Oct 1 for a Cast and Blast trip where we hunt for Chukar and fish between bird covies.

We hope to see you in Stanley, Idaho this summer.

Yours for rivers, Ellsworth