5-Day Salmon River Canyons Guided Cast & Blast

We are the only outfitter that targets steelhead exclusively with spey rods on the Lower Salmon.   We believe the process of fishing a swung fly will have a deep impact on your life.  The process allows all of us the ability to build a deeper connection with the places we guide.  We look forward to sharing these experiences with you.

You can expect to fish 5 to 7 runs in a day or areas on the river that carry a swung fly across the current.  There is nothing like catching a steelhead on a swung fly, but the journey is a commitment. 

We refer to steelhead as “Unicorns” because of the scarcity within our ecosystems.  They are aggressive and large which makes the fight particularly memorable and rewarding. With steelhead fishing, success is not measured in high catch rates rather success is measured in the innate ability to stick with the process. 

Oftentimes, multiple days are required to hook a steelhead on a swung fly, but the rush and effort of battling a steelhead are worth the effort after dedicating hard-earned time to the grab.  Even when a fish is lost after a grab, that sensation will be engrained in your memory. 

As they say, it is better to have swung and lost than to have never swung at all. Swinging for steelhead is more about the journey, listening to and feeling the river, playing with physics in nature, observing wildlife, feeling alive with the cold air and warm sun, accepting whatever conditions are in the moment.   When preparation meets opportunity and the fish grabs the fly,  the experience will be unforgettable and euphoric (all that time you put in, finally paid off!)

White Pine targets steelhead using a swung fly with spey rods.  Spey rods are two handed rods and very in length, the rods we use vary from 12.6’-16’.  Many lines  are used for the modern spey rod set up, the types depend on the season, angler skill set, and water conditions.  We primarily use three set ups:

• Skagit (heads are short) they carry large weighted flies with a verity of sink tips, requiring stripping more running lines between casts. 
• Scandi lines are slightly longer heads that carry light poly tips and medium/small flies well, require less stripping running lines between casts.
• Mid belly lines carry poly leaders and a variety of tips with small/medium sized flies well while requiring minimal stripping between casts.

The mechanics of the cast involve roughly 80% power coming from the lower hand pulling and 20% power coming from the upper hand pushing to throw line almost perpendicular to main river current. 

The current then pulls the fly line down river in a sweeping motion (the swing) until the fly line is parallel with the bank.   At the end of the "swing", the angler strips in the running line while taking a couple steps down river and repeats the process.

With this method the fly is presented to the fish in a broadside fashion.  We are searching for a fish willing to move and grab a swung fly. 

The formula is simple: 

• Cast
• Swing 
• Step 
• Repeat

Until .... Grab... and Grin!

When a steelhead grabs a swung fly all things in life come together and seem to make more sense.  Don’t overthink it, put in the time, smile often and love the process.  Yes, it takes grit and focus to hook a steelhead but most things in life worth getting hooked on demand the desire to stick with it mentality.

Evening before your trip

• 7:00 PM - Meet at the White Pine Outfitters for a pre-trip meeting.
• Drybags will be distributed and last minute questions you may have will be answered.
• Pack your bags for the morning.

Day 1

• Eat breakfast at Hotel Restaurant
• Leave the Hotel at 6 am-8:15 am depending on trip for the shuttle drive to Hammer Creek put-in.  (Approximate driving time 2.5 - 3 hours)

• Stop in Cottonwood or Grangeville, Idaho on the way for last minute purchases
• Arrive at put-in, meet the crew, get fitted with lifejacket, and listen to safety talks
• Trip launches and we have lunch on the river
• Approximate miles on the river: 2-8 on Day One

• Arrive at our first nights camp and enjoy a great Dinner prepared by the crew

Days 2 through 3

• Warm breakfast in camp
• Pack-up personal gear/ crew breaks down camp
• A day of fun on the river (lunch on the river)
• Approximate miles on the river: 5-18 miles depending on season and weather
• Arrive at camp, set up for the evening, more fun and great food…

Day 4

• Breakfast in Camp
• Early Start in Blue Canyon
• Lunch on the Snake River
• Approximate miles on the river: 16-24 on day 4 motor rig out depending season and weather
• Arrive at Heller Bar take-out 3:00 - 4:30pm
• Return by shuttle van to Hotel (Approx. 1.5  hour drive) with lead guide
• The rest of the crew sticks around to derig gear

*PLEASE NOTE:

Itineraries will vary somewhat with each trip, however the sample provided will give you an idea of what you might expect on your trip.

The price shown is per person for the full advertised number of days, however, does not include the Hotel stay in Moscow. 

Price does not include guide gratuity (15-20% is customary) or fishing/hunting licenses and permits. Trips must be booked at least 120 days in advance. 

Available launch dates are below:

Summer - Rafting and bass fishing

July 18th, July 25th, Aug 1st, Aug 2nd, Aug 8th, Aug 15th, Aug 22th, Aug 29th, Sept 5th, Sept 12th, Sept 19th, Sept 26th

Winter/Fall - Steelhead trips, Cast and blast and Scenic trips
Oct 3rd, Oct 10th, Oct 17th, Oct 24th, Nov 31st, Nov 7, Nov 14th, Nov 21th, Nov 28th, Dec 5th, Jan 2nd, Jan 9th, Jan 16th, Jan 23rd

The price shown is per person for the full advertised number of days.
This price does not include the Hotel stay in Moscow. 

Price does not include guide gratuity (15-20% is customary) or fishing/hunting licenses and permits. Trips must be booked at least 120 days in advance. 

• After submitting a booking request, we will call you as soon as possible (usually within 24-48 hours) to collect information about you and your group, learn about trip intentions and goals, and answer any questions you may have.
• We will send an email with:
• An invoice with the total amount due for the trip. 
• Liability forms that need to be forwarded to guests on the trip.  These are required before any client can participate in a trip.  Sign these online.
• All licenses should be purchased and information included in the liability forms.
• Trip specific information, including location, meet time, maps, etc.
• After a 50% deposit is paid for the trip, or the full amount for trips less than 30 days out, we will assign a guide and block off your requested trip date.
• After 30 days, the remaining amount on the invoice and liability forms are due.

Day Trip Cancellations

Final payment is due 30 days before the date or your trip.

Reservations made 30 days or less before selected date required the full payment at time of booking to confirm your date.

All deposits are non-refundable.  

If the trip is cancelled within 30 days of your date, you must pay for your trip. 

Day Trip Reschedule

If you need to reschedule your trip, please contact White Pine Outfitters by phone (208-883-3900) or email (info@whitepine-outfitters.com) as soon as possible to ensure a date is available.

White Pine Outfitters may assess a $150 fee for rescheduling.

Any cancellations made less than 30 days of your scheduled arrival, or you do not show on the day of your trip will result in forfeiture of the full payment.

Multi-Day Trip Cancellations

If you find it necessary to cancel your trip please notify us as soon as possible. All deposits are non-refundable. If you cancel your trip more than 120 days prior to your departure date we will retain your deposit and credit it toward a future trip with White Pine Outfitters. If you cancel 120 day or less but more than 60 days prior to your launch date you must pay 50% of the trip price. If you cancel within 60 days of your trip departure, you must pay the full trip price. This cancellation policy applies per person. We regret we cannot make exceptions for personal emergencies. Because of this, we strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation and travel insurance (see Travel Insurance).

Travel Insurance / Life Flight Insurance

Your pre-trip package will provide more information on the rigors of the trip you have chosen. Even though we make every effort to insure a safe trip for everyone, we strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings, and your vacation by purchasing a traveler’s insurance policy. Should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due to illness or injury, a trip cancellation policy will cover your non-refundable payments in most cases. If you become ill or injured while on a river trip, evacuation may be prolonged, difficult and expensive. Many trip insurance policies cover such events. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance you will be asked to sign a waiver. Baggage and cameras are carried entirely at the owner’s risk, and White Pine Outfitters Inc. accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged, or delayed property. We recommend TRAVELEX.