This time last year the steelhead fishing was excellent, but this year the weather is cooler and the fishing has been slower. As with most steelhead reports it depends on who you talk too. The weather will warm up in early April and I expect the fishing to get much better. Below Salmon the water has been going up and down because of runoff and the conditions have not been that good. There are some fish in the upper river with many of these fish wintering in those stretches.
The main run of fish is still below Challis and they have been moving very slowly. Nymph fishing the runs is still your best bet. I like Prince nymphs and Stoneflies under a indicator as my favorite technique right now. You can swing flies as the water warms up. The best fishing has been in the afternoons once the water warms a couple of degrees. As the day time temperatures rise the fishing will be good early and late in the day.
