Fly Fishing the Middle Fork Salmon River in Summer
Cutthroat trout were once the dominant trout species of the
western United States. In fact, cutthroat were the first salmonid
chronicled by Lewis & Clark on their historic journey west.
Among the angling cognoscenti, cutthroat hold a warm spot. They
are a beautiful fish, often sprouting intense yellow, orange
and red shades. And they are very willing to take a dry fly.
While progress has not been kind to the cutthroat, the Middle
Fork remains one of their great strongholds. Since 1973 a catch-and-release,
single barbless hook only policy has allowed the trout to thrive.
Middle Fork cutthroat average 12 to 15 inches in length, with
some up to 20 inches and more. Framed by the Sawtooth and Salmon
River Mountains in the heart of the Frank Church-River of No
Return Wilderness in central Idaho, the Middle Fork provides
a stunningly beautiful backdrop for pursuing this most becoming
salmon.
The cutthroat of the Middle Fork are very surface-oriented;
in fact, we only fish with dry flies! Standing in the bow of
Solitude River Trips drift boat, you'll cast easy-to-follow
attractor patterns -- Stimulators, Schroeder's Hoppers and
Parachute Adams - against granite walls, behind mid-river
rocks and along the seam lines of back-eddies. More often
than not, your casts will bring a vigorous rise. The
crystalline waters of the Middle Fork often let you follow
the action from when the fish begins to move for the fly to
when it takes. Because the fish are very opportunistic,
they're willing to take flies on top throughout the day,
whether there's a hatch on or not-and in summer, the hatches
of caddis flies can be so prolific that you can barely open
your mouth, unless you want to taste what the trout are
eating!
Thanks to the cutthroat's cooperative nature, there are few
better places to introduce newcomers to fly fishing than the
Middle Fork. It's a wonderful thing to watch a spouse or son
or daughter make a cast, set the hook, and play their first
fish in.
YOUR DRIFT BOAT FLY FISHING TRIP INCLUDES...
All meals while on the river, including lunch the last day,
round trip ground transportation from Stanley to the river and
return to Stanley at the end of the trip, sleeping bag, deluxe
soft pad, life jacket, roomy four person tent for every two
people, camp chairs, dining table, complimentary water resistant
duffle for your personal gear (size: 12"x24"), waterproof container
for your day use items, eating utensils, drink cup, water bottle,
plenty of ice, wine with dinner only, and an ample supply of
cold beverages. All the above, with the addition of all fishing
gear. Two guests per boat and guide. If you have a favorite
rod and reel, please feel free to bring it along. If you are
a serious fisherman, or just want to improve your fishing skills,
then nothing compares with fishing from a drift boat. Rafts
cannot get stopped, or are unable to fish the small pockets
that a drift boat can.
NOTE: For families or groups that include eager anglers, combination fly fishing/rafting trips are available. Anglers will fish from our drift boats and spend extra time at productive fishing spots, and meet up with the rafters at the appointed camp spot. Families with people who only care to fish just a little bit and others that want to fish more make for an ideal family vacation.
Print out a Reservation
Form for this trip.
"Being on the Middle Fork of the Salmon was the best time
I have ever had with my two young sons. By day six everyone
was calling it the trip of a lifetime!"
Terry Mc Donell, New York
New York Editor, Men's Journal
