5 Best Flies For Salmon River Fly Fishing 2021

The Salmon River provides habitat for a variety of fish species including cutthroat trout, bull trout, rainbow trout, sockeye salmon, Chinook salmon, steelhead, smallmouth bass,  and sturgeon. For obvious reasons, Salmon River fishing is a coveted location for anglers from all over.

In the spring, the river is filled with steelhead as they complete their migration from the Pacific Ocean. In the summer months, the most popular catch on the Salmon River are cutthroat trout, bull trout, and rainbow trout. 

The Salmon River can be accessed by wading, drift boat, or a guided Salmon River fishing trip. These unique opportunities allow everyone of all skill sets and desire an opportunity for fishing the Salmon River. 

Read our list of Best Flies for Salmon River Fly Fishing:

1. Fat Albert
2. Hippie Stomper
3. Elk Hair Caddis
4. Purple Haze
5. Grasshopper Fly

1. Fat Albert

The Fat Albert is designed to imitate almost any terrestrial bug that has a flat profile and a lot of legs. This fly easily imitates a hopper, stonefly, or cicada. If you’re tying your own fly, try this fly with black and tan foam, or even orange and black for a couple of different combinations that are sure to catch the fish eye. Regardless of whether or not you’re tying your own fly, this fly should take up a good bit of real estate in your fly box when you’re fishing the Salmon River.

2. Hippie Stomper

The Hippie Stomper is a dry fly that’s a hybrid attractor pattern that is to be fished as a hopper/general terrestrial pattern. This fly is highly visible, easy to use, efficient and an overall great fly to use when fly fishing the Salmon River.

3. Elk Hair Caddis

The Elk Hair Caddis is a dry fly typically used for trout fishing, which is perfect for the abundance of trout species to fish for on the Salmon River. This fly imitates adult caddisflies and smaller stoneflies, depending on the colors and sizes used to tie this particular fly.

4. Purple Haze

The Purple Haze fly is a favorite imitation of the mayfly. This fly is known for catching fish when a parachute Adams won’t and it has a record of catching selective trout when nothing else is working. This is a go-to fly fishing the Salmon River

5. Grasshopper Fly

Just like there are many different types of grasshoppers, there are many different types of grasshopper flies and all are pretty safe to have on hand. Trout love the grasshopper fly, and if you’re tying your own fly, be sure to tie them in different shapes and sizes to appeal to different fish.

Our premier Idaho fishing fly shops are The Bent Rod located in Challis, ID, and Salmon River Fly Box in Salmon, ID.

What kind of fish do you want to catch on the Salmon River? Idaho River Adventures offers a variety of all-inclusive fishing trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Every trip Idaho River Adventure offers has an emphasis on safety and customer satisfaction. We hope you will join us!

Book Your Idaho Fishing Adventure

Emily Knittel

Emily Knittel is a Montana based writer, mountain biker, and self-proclaimed professional hype girl. With a degree in Journalism, and an unshakable love for the outdoors, Emily writes to encourage a life of whimsy and adventure.