The 10 Best Fly Fishing Rivers in Idaho
From the legendary Henry's Fork to remote wilderness streams, discover Idaho's finest fly fishing destinations. Hatch charts, access points, and what flies to bring.
Idaho is a fly fishing paradise. With over 3,100 miles of fishable streams and 2,000+ natural lakes, the state offers diverse angling opportunities from spring creek stalking to freestone pocket water. Here are the ten rivers every fly angler should experience.
1. Henry's Fork of the Snake River
Location: Island Park, Eastern Idaho
Best For: Technical dry fly fishing, large rainbow trout
The Henry's Fork is considered one of the finest dry fly streams in the world. The Railroad Ranch section in Harriman State Park offers sight fishing to large, selective rainbows in gin-clear spring creek water. The river below Island Park Dam provides excellent nymphing opportunities. Hatches include Pale Morning Duns, Green Drakes, and prolific callibaetis.
2. Silver Creek
Location: Near Sun Valley, Central Idaho
Best For: Spring creek purists, catch-and-release
Silver Creek is a legendary spring creek with ultra-clear water and wary fish. The Nature Conservancy protects much of the stream. Fish rise consistently to tricos, PMDs, and terrestrials throughout summer. This is sight-fishing at its finest—and most demanding.
3. South Fork of the Snake River
Location: Swan Valley to Idaho Falls
Best For: Float fishing, numbers of fish, cutthroat and brown trout
The South Fork offers outstanding float fishing with excellent dry fly action. Known for prolific caddis and salmonfly hatches in early summer. Cutbows (cutthroat-rainbow hybrids) are common, with some browns exceeding 20 inches. Public access is limited—floating is the best way to fish it.
4. Big Wood River
Location: Ketchum/Sun Valley area
Best For: Roadside access, wild rainbows
The Big Wood flows through the Sun Valley resort area and offers quality roadside fishing. Wild rainbow and brown trout respond well to attractor patterns and nymphs. The upper river above Ketchum is small water ideal for light tackle and short-line nymphing.
5. Middle Fork of the Salmon River
Location: Frank Church Wilderness
Best For: Wilderness experience, westslope cutthroat
Accessible only by float trip or bush plane, the Middle Fork offers a true wilderness fly fishing adventure. Native westslope cutthroat are abundant and aggressive—they'll eat dry flies all day. Multi-day float trips combine world-class whitewater with pristine fishing.
6. North Fork of the Clearwater River
Location: Kelly Creek drainage, North-Central Idaho
Best For: Wild westslope cutthroat, solitude
Kelly Creek is legendary among cutthroat purists. The catch-and-release regulations have produced exceptional fishing for wild fish. The hike in keeps crowds away. Best fishing is July through September when water levels drop.
7. South Fork of the Boise River
Location: Below Anderson Ranch Dam
Best For: Year-round tailwater fishing, rainbows
The South Fork Boise is a productive tailwater with consistent temperatures and excellent insect life. Bull trout, rainbows, and browns all reside here. The canyon is steep—floating is popular for access. PMD, caddis, and golden stonefly hatches provide surface action.
Hatch Calendar Tip
Peak dry fly season in Idaho runs from May through October. Early season (May-June) brings salmonflies and golden stones on freestone rivers. Summer (July-August) features PMDs, tricos, and hoppers. Fall (September-October) offers blue-winged olive hatches and streamer fishing for browns.
8. Salmon River (Upper)
Location: Stanley to Challis
Best For: Scenic beauty, varied water types
The upper Salmon offers a blend of pocket water, riffles, and pools with excellent public access. Cutthroat and rainbow trout respond to standard attractor patterns. The scenery—with the Sawtooths as a backdrop—is unmatched.
9. Lochsa River
Location: US Highway 12 corridor
Best For: Roadside access, freestone fishing
The Lochsa is a classic freestone river with good roadside access along Highway 12. Wild cutthroat are the primary target. The river runs high into July, so late summer and early fall are prime. Steelhead also pass through in fall.
10. Teton River
Location: Eastern Idaho near Driggs
Best For: Remote floating, underrated fishery
The Teton is often overlooked in favor of nearby Henry's Fork, but offers excellent fishing with fewer crowds. Cutthroat and rainbow trout mix in the upper reaches. The canyon section requires floating and provides solitude.
Essential Fly Patterns for Idaho
- Dries: Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, PMD Sparkle Dun, Chubby Chernobyl
- Nymphs: Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Pat's Rubber Legs, Perdigon
- Streamers: Woolly Bugger, Sculpzilla, Zoo Cougar
- Terrestrials: Foam Hopper, Ant, Beetle