Steelhead Fishing From a Jet Boat Offers Excitement and a Party Vibe
By Roger Phillips, The Idaho Statesman, Boise
Nov. 8–Steelhead have arrived, and the Salmon River near Riggins will be a destination for steelhead anglers until spring when the season closes.
Now comes the tricky part — actually catching them, and surviving the brutal weather swings between now and next spring.
One way to beat the weather is fishing out of a jet boat. They’re like a combination of a fishing boat and RV, which makes them a great platform for cold weather fishing.
There are basically two ways to do it. Hook up with a buddy or an acquaintance who owns one, or charter one from an outfitter.
If you don’t have a buddy with a jet boat, it’s time for plan B, which is easier than you might think.
It costs about the same per person to fish from a jet boat as it costs to do an outfitted trip on a driftboat, which is another popular way to fish for steelhead.
But a jet boat allows a bigger group to fish together, a little more room, and the chance to move up and down the river.
A fishing party, or a party while fishing?
Jet boats also can turn a steelhead trip into a party atmosphere. Depending on its size, a jet boat can hold about six people on average, give or take a couple people as you go up or down in size.
Tony Bradbury has captained a jet boat on the Salmon River for nearly 20 years. He recently ran a jet boat trip for Exodus Wilderness Adventures in Riggins, taking a group of anglers from Spokane-based Lydig Construction.
“You can have a group of friends all together, you can stand up and walk around, come in out of the weather, and have music if you so desire,” Bradbury said.
His iPod is linked to his jet boat’s stereo system, so if you want the party vibe, he can supply it.
There’s also room for coolers, extra clothes, snacks and what ever else you want to bring along.
If the weather gets bad, step into the covered area and stand next to the heater.
A jet boat can even escape a cloud burst by running up or downstream, or find a patch of sunny sky.
Richard Condrey, a construction manager for Lydig Construction, said a jet boat trip is an opportunity for employees to get to know one another outside of work and also enjoy the Salmon River.
“What better way than going fishing?” Condrey said.
Five months of fishing
Steelhead start arriving in the Salmon River in September, but it’s typically October before they reach the Riggins area in significant numbers, Bradbury said.
Mid-October through mid-November is his favorite time to fish. After November, it can get much colder.
Cold weather doesn’t mean the end of steelhead fishing. As long as the Salmon River is ice-free, there will be people fishing, and likely catching steelhead.
Steelhead often become lethargic in extremely cold temperatures, but “any rise in temperature is going to make them more active,” Bradbury said.
Bradbury said he had one of his best days of steelhead fishing when the water temperature was in the low 30s.
He often has some of his best fishing of the year in February when the Salmon River starts getting its first hint of spring weather.
A scenic journey
Regardless of what craft you fish from, a steelhead trip on the Salmon River is about more than fishing.
The rugged canyon is the second deepest in the United States and offers large, sandy beaches that make great lunch spots, steep rocky bluffs, snow-capped peaks and cascading tributary streams.
“Around every corner it’s like another postcard picture,” Jim Eisner of Spokane said.
When the snow hits the high country, wildlife migrates down into the canyon. You can spot deer, elk, bear, bighorn sheep and other animals along the river.
Jet boats can also run up into the Frank Church Wilderness during the winter, which is difficult to do in a drift boat or a raft.
Rapid transit
Another part of the fun is to experience the Salmon River’s rapids from a jet boat. The boats travel up through the Salmon’s numerous Class III rapids with surprising ease, and since the boats have to be under power to steer, it’s a fast, bouncy, splashy ride when you come back down.
Booking a jet boat trip
Jet boats trips are typically booked for the whole boat for about $1,000 per day, but prices vary depending on the company and the size of the boat. Smaller jet boats are also available starting at $400 a day for as few as two people.
Individuals and small groups can also do trips on larger boats, but they would be put with another group, and they would have to be flexible with their dates because it would be on a space-available basis.
Most outfitters supply the boat, a captain, fishing tackle and bait. Some provide drinks, meals and snacks as well.
Get all the details about the trip, including what size of boat you will be in and how it’s set up. For instance, not all jet boats have covers, but nearly all have heaters. You will want to bring warmer clothes for a trip in an open jet boat, and definitely rain gear.
Find out how long the trip is, where you will be fishing, and what kind of fishing you will be doing. Asking all the pertinent questions will ensure you get the trip that you want.
Here are some jet boat outfitters in the Riggins area.
Exodus Wilderness Adventures, (800) 992-3484 or www.riverescape.com.
River Adventures, (800) 524-9710, www.riveradventuresltd.com.
Killgore Adventures, (800) 469-8757, www.killgoreadventures.com.
For a complete list, log on to www.rigginsidaho.com.
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