Does anyone know of any data online that shows what the "average" upstream travel time is for an adult steelhead?

Specifically I would like to be able to estimate how long it takes a steelhead to travel from Lower Granite Dam upstream to Riggins Idaho.

Thanks,
CG

cg' I don't think you can answer that question specifically. There are too many variables. Water temperature, speed, and color are big factors in fish movement pace. So is the maturity of the fish and how close they are to spawning, which can make some of them travel at a faster pace. I have read studies that indicate anadromous steelhead and salmon are capable of swimming up large rivers with moderate flows (such as the Columbia, Willamette, and parts of the Snake) about 25 miles per day. And on the other side of the coin they can loiter around in an area of such rivers, or in the lower ends of cooler tributaries, for days before they get the urge to take off upriver again. It's just too complicated and unpredictable to be very accurate. However, from tagged fish studies it was estimated that these fish average about 7 miles per day up these largest watersheds. Hope that helps.

They can move fast if they want to. I caught a Steelhead that was crome bright with sea-lice on it in the upper hoh one time. Where I was fishing it was about 13-15 miles from the mouth by way of river. Sea-lice last what 6 hours or so. I figure that fish made it up their faster than I can row down from that far up.

I know a bit about Salmon river fish and can tell you that they can really move when things get right. I would say 25 miles is a conservative number when conditions permit. Right now The water temp at Riggins is 60 degrees. The water is also very murky from the fire last year upstream. The worst part is that it is very low right now. I have been floating that river 20 times a year at least for many, many years and its the lowest I have ever seen it. They shut off irrigation at Challis the other day, so that will raise it a tiny bit, cold weather this weekend with some rain will help, but will also soot it up again. I fished from twin bridges to hammer creek monday and tues, saw two fish the whole time, hooked none. The current is so slow, that plugs will not get action in some of the better spots that usually produce. The fish are still holding in the Snake... waiting... just like us. I suggest that you get your Honey do's done this weekend...because in about two weeks its going to be wide open and you will want a kitchen pass. That aside, I'll be up there sunday through tues this weekend, and again the week after that.

Only memory from this weekend that stands out from last weekend... The two people who pulled into Hammer Cr camp ground at about 06:30 A.M in a bomber 1970's Ford LTD. They got out of the car by the campground water facet, stripped down naked and started soaping up. Then washed their clothes with the same bar soap, thew them on the hood of the car and stood there naked smoking waiting for them to dry... They outlasted me, it was not a pretty site.

Thats the best story Ive heard in a long time. They could be my inlaws.

there are a ton of factors that influence travel time, especially that far from the salt, and on a low water year like this those fish are holding up in the deep holes and other hideouts for an extra long time.

www.fpc.org

Hope that helps!!...it should.