VOL. 14 · NO. 25 June 17, 2026 · Bozeman, MT LIVE · 6 RIVERS TRACKED · TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
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Upper Salmon River Steelhead Report (Feb. 11–15, 2026): Mild Winter, Stable Flows, and Fish Pushing Farther Upstream

A mild winter kept the Upper Salmon River more open than usual in mid-February, with warmer water, a shorter ice jam, and stable flows. Monitoring from Feb. 11–15, 2026 also showed steelhead moving farther upstream than typical, with strong angler effort and good catch rates across most monitored areas.

Key Takeaways

  • Report period: February 11–15, 2026
  • An unusually mild winter appears to be influencing river conditions and steelhead movement
  • Warmer water and a shorter-than-usual ice jam have allowed fish to move farther upstream than typical for mid-February
  • Angler effort was strong and catch rates were good across most monitored areas
  • River conditions were generally favorable with stable flows

Upper Salmon River Steelhead Report (Feb. 11–15, 2026)

This week’s Upper Salmon River steelhead fishing report covers data collected February 11–15, 2026. It reflects an unusually mild winter that has influenced both river conditions and fish movement.

Bretz RV Below Post

River conditions

  • Warmer water temperatures were reported during the monitoring period.
  • A shorter-than-usual ice jam helped keep conditions more open than normal for mid-February.
  • Overall conditions remained generally favorable, including stable flows.

Steelhead movement

The combination of warmer water temperatures and a shorter ice jam has allowed steelhead to move farther upstream than typically seen by mid-February.

Angler effort and catch rates

  • Angler effort was strong.
  • Catch rates were good across most monitored areas.

FAQ

What dates does this Upper Salmon River steelhead report cover?

It covers data collected February 11–15, 2026.

How has the mild winter affected steelhead movement on the Upper Salmon River?

Warmer water temperatures and a shorter-than-usual ice jam have allowed steelhead to move farther upstream than is typically seen by mid-February.

Bretz RV Below Post

Were river conditions favorable during the monitoring period?

Yes. Conditions were generally favorable, including stable flows.

How was angler effort and fishing success?

Angler effort was strong, and catch rates were good across most monitored areas.


Bretz RV Below Post