Fishing & Hunting in Hells Canyon

Year around fishing and hunting charters are available. Licensed guides know where the big ones are and can take you there.

FISHING:

May - September: bass, rainbow trout

September - February: steelhead

March - September:  Sturgeon

 

Click here to view photos & videos.

 


Imagine getting over 125 fish to the boat and then loading 90 keeper steelhead into coolers for the ride home after 2.5 days on the river. Or imagine catching 45 steelhead yourself in this time frame! The steelhead fishing this season in definitely going down in my record books as the all time greatest fishing I have ever seen. The temps are starting to get colder and there was frost on the dock in the mornings, but the fish are still on the bite and in great numbers.  

Fish On!!!!! 

Jason Schultz, Hells Canyon Sport Fishing

Fish & Game Hikes Fish Limits
Anglers will be able to take five steelhead a day!

 

Responding to a strong return of A-run steelhead, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission agreed Wednesday to raise daily and seasonal bag limits on steelhead in the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.

Starting Friday, October 2nd, the daily bag limit for steelhead in the three rivers will go from three per day to five a day, but n
o more than two of those can be 32 inches or longer. Bag limits on the Clearwater River and its tributaries, which don't open to catch-and-keep fishing until Oct. 15, will remain at two per day.

The size limits on the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers and the exclusion of the Clearwater from higher bag limits, were adopted to protect B-run steelhead that are not returning in high numbers like the A-run fish.

The commission also raised the season limits for the spring and fall to 40 fish but no more than 20 of those can be caught from the Clearwater River. Anglers who have a permit with reported harvest from the spring of 2009 can purchase a second permit to catch their fall season limit of 40.

"We have a lot of fish so we might as well go out and catch them," said Larry Barrett of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Lewiston.

Fisheries managers are predicting this year's steelhead run counted at Lower Granite Dam could far surpass the previous record of about 250,000, which was set in 2001. More than 155,000 of those are predicted to be hatchery A-run steelhead bound for the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. The rest of the run will be composed of wild A-run steelhead, B-run steelhead and A-run steelhead bound for the Grand Ronde and Imnaha rivers

Through Tuesday, 163,517 steelhead had been counted passing Lower Granite Dam, 35 miles west of Lewiston on the Snake River. The 10-year average for this time of year is 73,316. The run at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River has slowed some but is still holding strong at 1,500 to 1,900 steelhead per day. So far this year, 583,661 steelhead have been counted passing Bonneville Dam.

Washington and Oregon are also considering adopting a five steelhead per day limit with the same size restrictions.

This article originally appeared in the Lewiston Morning Tribune on October 1st, 2009.


FEATURED TOUR GUIDES:

PLEASE CONTACT THE TOUR GUIDE DIRECTLY TO BOOK YOUR TRIP.


Asotin County Wingshooters

Web Site | Email | 800-564-9737
7357 Snake River Road, Asotin, WA  99402

Asotin County Wingshooters offers the best of both worlds…preserve hunts allowing extended seasons, dog training, good access and lots of birds, and wild hunts that will test your skills and endurance to the max. Our guides and dogs work hard to make your experience the best it can be. Most of our members become one after a visit as someone’s guest and deciding they want to make ACW part of their hunting tradition.

Aardvark's Adventure Co.

Web Site | Email | (800) 564-9737
7357 Snake River Road
, Asotin, WA  99402
 

Jet Boat Rental, Explore Hells Canyon, Beach Parties & Extreme Jet Boating with Bentz River Exploration

Beamers Hells Canyon Tours

Web Site | Email | (800) 522-6966
1451 Bridge Street
, Clarkston, WA 99403
 

“I recognized the extra effort Beamers Hells Canyon Tours put into our trip to make it a truly memorable and successful trip. I’ve done a lot of charter fishing, in a lot of places and their willingness to try different areas and different techniques really kept it fun and interesting. Fishing client Tom Hindley

Beamers Hells Canyon Tours™ professionally guided fishing trips on the Snake River of Hells Canyon since 1974. Two overnight locations in Hells Canyon to serve you.


Bentz River Exploration 

Web Site | Email | (877) 707-6253
1309 Powers Avenue, Lewiston, ID 83501


Enjoy Sportfishing for Steelhead, Sturgeon, Bass, Trout Fishing and our Remote Lodge on the Salmon River. We pride our trips on first class service. We also have Chucker hunting and fishing combination trips.  


Clearwater River Guides 

Web Site | Email | (509) 751-0410
Clarkston, WA  99403

 

Clearwater River Guides has been providing custom fishing excursions steelhead on the Clearwater River since 2000 under the business name Snake River Guide Service. We will continue to provide the same quality experience for our guests but under our new name.

Dream Catcher Guide Service 

Web Site | Email | (509) 758-3981
610 Riverview Boulevard, Clarkston, WA  99403

 

Magnificent Snake River fully guided River Jet Boat Fishing!  Awesome White Sturgeon, Smallmouth Bass, Steelhead & Salmon!  Experience Snake River Fishing at it's best!  Catch the Fish of your Dreams!

FishHawk Guides 

Web Site | Email | (888) 548-8896 or (509) 758-5662
2210 2nd Avenue, Clarkston, WA  99403

 

Guided Snake River fishing trips for Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Sturgeon, Smallmouth Bass, and Channel Catfish. FishHawk Guides also offer guided Grande Ronde River steelhead and smallmouth bass fishing trips and Clearwater River steelhead fishing, associated with Clearwater Drifters, for large B-run steelhead and salmon.


Fish Reaper

Website | Email | (877) 290-9370 or (509) 243-3474

Cell:  (360) 269-7628

 

Do you like to catch big fish? Mike and Linda Kelly's Fish Reaper Guide Service is your source! We specialize in professionally guided salmon and steelhead fishing adventures in Alaska, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. With over 30 years of professional full time guiding experience, we know where the big fish are and when. Mike was voted one of the top 25 guides on the west coast according to an article in the Salmon & Steelhead Journal Fall 2006 issue.
 


Hells Canyon Packers

Website | Email | (208) 746-1412, Ask for Brenda or Brice

Lewiston, ID  83501

 

Hells Canyon Packers offers historic ranch lodging and wilderness adventures in addition to rifle and archery hunts for big game in the Snake River Unit of Hells Canyon.


Hells Canyon Sport Fishing

Website | Email | (208) 750-1100

1922 13th Street, Lewiston, ID  83501

 

Welcome to Hells Canyon Sport Fishing! If you’re looking for an adventure, the best guides in the region are here to give you just that! Whether it’s Spring or Fall Chinook, Steelhead, Sturgeon or Walleye – we can hook you up with that trophy catch you’ve always dreamed of.


Pete's Fishing Guide Service

Web Site | Email | (509) 386-0582
  

"Our steelhead fishing journey up Hells Canyon was one that we will never forget. Your narration and navigation of the Canyon went beyond our expectations.  And, the fishing was outstanding. The huge steelhead that we brought back home to smoke goes beyond words. We will be back!"


Reel Time Fishing

Web Site | Email | (509) 758-9160
2131 Critchfield Road, Clarkston, WA 99403

 

Reel Time Fishing is a sole proprietorship owned and operated by Toby Wyatt. Reel Time specializes in personalized fishing trips. Fishing for Steelhead, Salmon, Sturgeon, Smallmouth Bass and Rainbow Trout. We use our jet boats and drift boats to guide you to the best fishing holes. Drift fishing, trolling and fly fishing are the main methods used. We fish the Snake, Grande Ronde and Columbia rivers in Washington state. In Idaho we fish the Clearwater River. Each river has its peak time for specific fish.


River Quest Excursions

River Quest Excursions

Website | Email | (800) 589-1129
1523 Powers, Lewiston, ID 83501
 

Enjoy spectacular fishing with an experienced guide. All gear is furnished, on heated jet boats.


Snake Dancer Excursions

Web Site | Email | (800) 234-1941
PO Box 318,
Clarkston, WA 99403

 

We'll take you to some of the best fishing holes for bass and trout. In the fall we are available for Steelhead, Bass, & Sturgeon fishing. Fishing charters can be scheduled from one day to multiple days in our comfortable lodge and jet boats.   Fishing Charters leave from Heller Bar Boat launch or Hells Canyon Resort and Marina to be determined at the time of reservations.


Snake River Adventures

Web Site | Email | (800) 262-8874

227 Snake River Ave., Lewiston, Idaho 83501
 

Snake River Adventures offers a myriad of exciting and fabulous adventures on the Snake River, the Salmon River, and also the Clearwater River. Excursions such as Hells Canyon Jet Boat Tours, whitewater rafting, guided fishing trips, guided hunting trips, and overnight excursions at our two lodges, Kirby Creek Lodge, and Sheep Creek Ranch.


Snake River Guide Service

Snake River Guide Service
Web Site | Email | (509) 751-0410
 

Snake River Guide Service provides guided charters for Trophy sturgeon fishing on the Snake River and Steelhead fishing on the Snake River and Clearwater River.
 


Steel Dreams Guide Service
Email | (509) 869-9694
 


 


 

 
 

Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau
Email Us | Local: (509) 758-7489 | Toll Free: (877) 774-7248

504 Bridge St., Clarkston, WA 99403