Top Waters in Salmon Region
Salmon River (Main)
RiverThe 'River of No Return' - Idaho's most famous river flowing over 400 miles from the Sawtooths to the Snake. Anglers flock to stretches near Riggins for Chinook salmon in spring/summer and steelhead in fall/winter. Hundreds of miles of fishable waters including excellent trout fishing in the central Idaho wilderness.
Middle Fork Salmon River
River105.6 miles of wild and scenic river - a premier backcountry fishing destination. Native westslope cutthroat and steelhead in pristine wilderness. Float trip recommended for full experience.
Little Salmon River
River52 miles joining the Main Salmon at Riggins. Heavily used during Chinook and steelhead seasons - road parallels much of it providing excellent bank access for those without boats. Also pretty river for summer trout fishing.
Snake River (Hells Canyon)
RiverThe mighty Snake through North America's deepest river gorge. Famous for huge White Sturgeon (catch-and-release only) - prehistoric fish over 6 feet long. Also excellent smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and steelhead.
Redfish Lake
LakeStunning 1,504-acre alpine lake in the Sawtooth Mountains. Famous for its endangered sockeye salmon (viewing only), but excellent fishing for kokanee, rainbow, bull trout, and brook trout. Iconic mountain scenery.
Alturas Lake
LakeAn 836-acre mountain lake in the Sawtooth Valley. Features Kokanee, Cutthroat Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Bull Trout (catch-and-release). Regular rainbow trout stocking throughout summer. Beautiful glacier-carved lake with camping and boat access.
Kids Creek Pond
LakeA small 0.6-acre pond near downtown Salmon, regularly stocked with rainbow trout. In some years, hatchery steelhead or Chinook salmon returning to Pahsimeroi Hatchery are released here for a rare fishing opportunity. Great for families.
Perkins Lake (Sawtooth)
LakeA scenic 50-acre mountain lake near Alturas Lake in the Sawtooth Range. Motor restrictions keep it peaceful. Stocked with rainbow trout. Features camping and toilet facilities. Good for brook trout, rainbow, and Bull Trout catch-and-release.
All 10 Waters in Salmon Region
Steelhead and Scenery: Fishing the Salmon River Mountains
The River of No Return
The Salmon River flows over 400 miles through the heart of Idaho, offering everything from roadside bank access near Riggins to deep wilderness expeditions in the Frank Church. It's a premier destination for both spring Chinook salmon and fall/winter steelhead, with hundreds of miles of productive spawning habitat and deep wintering holes.
Middle Fork: Wilderness Fly Fishing
The Middle Fork Salmon is a remote wilderness river with native westslope cutthroat trout. A multi-day float requires much more preparation than a roadside fishing trip: confirm river permits, launch access, current flows, and the applicable fishing rules. Remoteness does not guarantee solitude or fishing success.
The Stanley Basin Lakes
Nestled at the foot of the Sawtooths, the high-alpine lakes like Redfish, Alturas, and Stanley offer spectacular scenery and excellent fishing for kokanee, rainbow, and brook trout. They are also the destination for the world's longest-migrating sockeye salmon, which return to these high mountain waters to spawn after a 900-mile journey from the Pacific.
Regional Highlights
- Main Salmon River
- Middle Fork Salmon
- Redfish Lake
- Chinook & Cutthroat
Salmon Region general daily limits
These are regional general daily limits only. Water-specific Special Rule Waters are not displayed on this page; check the official IDFG source below (pages 47-49) for exceptions and the rule for your exact water. IDFG states possession is three times the applicable daily bag limit.
- In rivers and streams, no bag, length or possession limits, spearfishing allowed
- Brook Trout limit is 25
- Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules – if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for Brook Trout
- Bull Trout – catch-and-release
- Kokanee limit is 25
- Some salmon seasons and limits are published separately. Confirm current openings and limits in IDFG’s active salmon rules.
- Defined as Rainbow Trout longer than 20 inches in the Salmon River drainage (excluding the Lemhi and Pahsimeroi rivers, lakes and reservoirs, and ponds)
- Fishing for steelhead is prohibited unless a steelhead season is specifically opened for that water (see steelhead seasons/ limits on page 53)
- Sturgeon – catch-and-release
- Sturgeon must not be removed from the water and must be released upon landing
- Barbless hooks, sliding swivel device to secure a weight, and a lighter test line to secure weight to sliding swivel device are required, see page 56
- Tiger Muskie limit is 2, none under 40 inches
- Trout limit is 6, all species combined
- Chinook Salmon and steelhead placed in ponds are counted in the trout bag limit
- Harvest is encouraged. No bag, length, or possession limits, spearfishing allowed.
- Whitefish limit is 25
- Harvest allowed during any open season unless otherwise noted under Special Rules – if gear or bait restrictions are listed, they apply when fishing for whitefish
- May not be harvested or possessed
- No bag, length, or possession limits
Source: IDFG 2025–2027 Fishing Seasons & Rules. Pages 47-49.