Salmon

We picked up a cancellation permit for the Main Salmon and did a 5 night 6 day trip from Vinegar Creek to Carey Creek with a group of 4 families. We launched on August 25th and took out on August 30th. Flows varied between 4400 cfs and 4700 cfs on the White Bird gage. We enjoyed big sandy beaches and lots of swimming in the river. We camped at Upper Devils Teeth Camp, Sandy Hole Camp, Reed Creek Camp, Rabbit Creek Camp, and Johnson Creek Camp.

'Why use the gage at Whitebird? The Main Salmon run normally is from Corn Cr. to Carey Cr. Whitebird is many miles downstream of Carey Cr. There is a gage at Shoup, ID that is below Corn Cr. and above Carey Cr. i.e. in the actual run itself. Wouldn't this be more representative of the flows to expect' -----

Actually the Shoup gauge is a ways upsteam of the Corn Creek launch. To get a better representation of the flow at Corn Cr add the gauges Middle Fork Salmon near Shoup and the Main Salmon near Shoup. That'll give you a good view of the water near the put in. Some people use the Whitebird gauge because it's closer to the flows you'll see near the take out. Pull the Little Salmon flows out of Whitebird and you get a fair representation of what's going on with all the side creeks dumping into the Main Salmon above Riggins and the take out. Typically Whitebird is about double the flow at Corn Creek.

Just for clarification - the Shoup gauge is about 25 miles above Corn Creek.

Why use the gage at Whitebird? The Main Salmon run normally is from Corn Cr. to Carey Cr. Whitebird is many miles downstream of Carey Cr. There is a gage at Shoup, ID that is below Corn Cr. and above Carey Cr. i.e. in the actual run itself. Wouldn't this be more representative of the flows to expect?

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his is 13 year-old Rose running part one of Elkhorn Rapid on the Main Salmon.
Thirteen year-old Rose running part one of Elkhorn Rapid on the Main Salmon.
Keith runs Bailey in his IK

This is 13 year old Rose Hodges running the jet boat slot in Salmon Falls. She has just recovered from a roll.
This is 13 year old Rose Hodges running the jet boat slot in Salmon Falls. She has just recovered from a roll.
16 Year-Old Rachael runs her first Class III.

waypoints

45.369183, -114.686433, 46.4M, Corn Creek, RR

45.418600, -114.868517, 57.2M, Lantz Bar, RR

45.466800, -114.954383, 63.4M, Blackadar, RR

45.507650, -115.035917, 69.0M, Hot springs pool, RL

45.548600, -115.154117, 76.1M, Magpie Creek, RL

45.542417, -115.250283, 82.6M, Yellow Pine Bar, RR

45.484967, -115.342617, 89.0M, Jim Moore, RR

45.413150, -115.467800, 99.1M, Fivemile Bar, RL

45.394650, -115.588150, 107.2M, Mann Creek, RL

45.433767, -115.667900, 112.5M, Polly Bemis, RL

45.453250, -115.946100, 127.6M, Carey Creek, RL

Most camps have big sand beaches.

Big water in a big canyon.

Scene in the upper part of the Main Salmon.

Early on the Main Salmon

The waves are bigger than they look!