Lemhi River Idaho Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone Stream
Species
Rainbow Trout (Wild)
Cutthroat Trout (Wild)
Salmon Steelhead
Bull Trout
Brook Trout (Wild)
Location
Central Idaho
Size:Small – 56 miles long
Nearest Towns
Salmon
Leadore
Season
Memorial Day Opening through October.
Access: Fair
Non-Resident License
State of Idaho
Weather: National Weather Service Link
Stream Flow Data: USGS Real Time Data (Lemi)
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing the Lemhi River In Idaho
The Lemhi River is a beautiful, small river that flows from Leadore down to its confluence with the Salmon River in Salmon, Idaho. The river begins with the confluence of Texas Creek and Eighteen-mile Creek. From there it flows 56 miles between the Lemhi and Bitterroot Mountain Ranges before reaching the Salmon River. Although most of the river runs through the huge Lemhi Valley on private property, the few place you can fish the river are worth it. It is also possible to obtain permission from a landowner, provided one handles it properly. In addition, there are some private ranches that cater to anglers and some local guide services that have rights to parts of the river available for hire.There are three public access points between the town of Leadore and Tendoy. There are other places you can fish the river where it is on the right of way of the road. Much of the river has a heavy growth of Willow trees along the banks and fishing it from the banks isn’t easy. Wading is required in most places. The main fish holding structure is the undercut banks and deadfalls. The stream consist of mostly runs, riffles and pools. The decline isn’t very steep in most places and the pools can be large and smooth in some areas.The Lemhi River has some very nice size rainbow trout that can average 16 inches and run much larger. Some years sea run steelhead and salmon move into the Lemhi River from the Upper Salmon River. It all depends on water temperature and water levels in the Salmon River. There’s no open season on steelhead or salmon.
Seasons:Except during the spring runoff, the fishing is generally good throughout the season.
Winter:Trout fishing can be good on warm, nice days.
Spring: Springtime is the best time to fish for trout.
Summer:Summer is normally good except during very dry, low water conditions.
Fall: Early fall is usually a great time for fly fishing the Lemhi River.