Today
Wednesday, Aug 19
5.6/10
Partial
Sunny
103°61°
Wind2 mph ENEClouds15%Moon40%
Idaho · River fishing forecast
Salmon River at White Bird fishing forecast today
Current conditions plus a 7-day fishing outlook for Salmon River at White Bird, including Fishing Score, wind, pressure, clouds, rain chance and moon phase, with live USGS water observations, recent trends and long-term seasonal context where available.
6.5/10
Fair
Current Fishing Score
Weather-based index with a long-term USGS river-flow check. Current water adjustment: 0.0.
72% weather data coveragePartial · pressure missingUSGS flow adjustment 0.0
Air temperature
61°F
Wind
0 mph ESE
Pressure
Unavailable
Not supplied by NWS; Fishing Score is partial
Cloud cover
6%
Rain chance
0%
Moon
Waxing Crescent
Water temp
70.2°F
USGS observation
Gusts
3 mph
Humidity
45%
Weather data updated: Aug 19, 2026, 1:56 AM MDT
Live water data
Salmon River at White Bird water temperature and USGS river conditions
Current observations with 24-hour, 7-day, recent 30-day and long-term seasonal context from the verified reference station.
Salmon River at White Bird IDUSGS-13317000 · about 0.0 mi from forecast point
Water temperature70.2°FUSGS 00010
24hSteady-0.5°F7 daysSteady-0.2°F30-day contextBelow 30-day median72.7°F medianSeasonal baselineNear seasonal median72.5°F median · 13 years
Streamflow4,090 cfsUSGS 00060
24hStable-5%7 daysRising+11%30-day contextNear 30-day median4,340 cfs medianSeasonal baselineNear seasonal median4,540 cfs median · 113 years
Gage height12.59 ftUSGS 00065
24hStable-0.12 ft7 daysRising+0.25 ft
Fishing Score water checkCurrent streamflow is about 10% from the long-term seasonal median based on 113 approved same-day observations. No score penalty applied.
Latest supported observation: Aug 19, 7:45 AM MDTSeasonal baseline uses approved USGS day-of-year statistics; 30-day context remains a separate recent median. On river pages with at least 20 approved observations contributing to the same-calendar-day streamflow baseline, unusually extreme or rapidly changing flow can only reduce the current score; it never adds bonus points.
Plan the week
Salmon River at White Bird 7-day fishing forecast
Compare day-level Fishing Scores with wind, rain risk, pressure and temperatures for the next seven days.
Forecast data coverageDaily weather-score coverage ranges from 54% to 72%. Cards marked Partial are missing one or more weighted inputs.
Best available weather score · partialSaturday, Aug 22 · 7.7/10
Thu
Thursday, Aug 20
6.1/10
Partial
Sunny
107°65°
Wind3 mph EClouds12%Moon50%
Fri
Friday, Aug 21
7.6/10
Partial
Mostly Sunny
109°67°
Wind3 mph ENERain6%Clouds50%Moon61%
Sat
Saturday, Aug 22
7.7/10
Partial
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
103°59°
Wind5 mph SWRain32%Clouds54%Moon71%
Sun
Sunday, Aug 23
7.4/10
Partial
Sunny
95°56°
Wind4 mph WRain7%Clouds14%Moon80%
Mon
Monday, Aug 24
7.5/10
Partial
Sunny
101°61°
Wind2 mph NNERain6%Clouds16%Moon88%
Tue
Tuesday, Aug 25
7.5/10
Partial
Mostly Sunny
101°60°
Wind3 mph NRain11%Clouds30%Moon94%
The large Current Fishing Score above uses current conditions and, on eligible river pages, can include a conservative USGS streamflow penalty. The seven daily cards remain weather-only because this site does not predict future river flow. Cards marked “Partial” use less than 90% of the weighted weather inputs.
Salmon River at White Bird fishing conditions overview
The current weather inputs produce a fair weather-based Fishing Score. Very light wind may leave clear, calm water more demanding.
Estimated activity windows: 6:06 AM–8:21 AM and 7:19 PM–9:34 PM local time. These are dawn/dusk windows, not guaranteed bite times.
Best fishing time today: estimated windows
The first estimated window runs from 6:06 AM–8:21 AM, around sunrise at 6:51 AM. The second runs from 7:19 PM–9:34 PM, around sunset at 8:49 PM. Lower light can change visibility and fish positioning, but actual feeding periods vary by species, season and water conditions.
Salmon River at White Bird fishing: structure, seasons and local conditions
Large western Idaho river reach with strong current, deep runs and seasonal migratory fish. That physical setting is the starting point for reading today's forecast, because pools, runs and current seams, together with deeper structure and pronounced depth changes can react differently to wind, light and changing water conditions. Salmon River at White Bird includes pronounced depth changes. Deep holes or basins and shallow margins can respond differently to sun, wind and short weather shifts, so surface conditions should not be treated as a direct reading of the entire water column.
In Idaho, spring warming, runoff or reservoir-level change can create fast transitions, while summer usually increases the importance of cooler water, depth and low-light periods. Fall cooling can reopen shallower habitat. For Steelhead and Chinook salmon, the exact timing is better judged from current weather and measured water conditions than from a fixed calendar date. Use the forecast to decide when wind, rain and cloud cover are manageable, then judge pools, runs and current seams; deeper structure and pronounced depth changes; and current seams and slower-water edges against the actual flow at the access point.
Common targets at Salmon River at White Bird include Steelhead, Chinook salmon, and Smallmouth bass. They do not use depth, current and cover in exactly the same way, so the Fishing Score remains a conditions index rather than a species-specific bite prediction. This page also has a manually mapped USGS reference station, so fresh water temperature, flow or level can be shown when that station reports a supported sensor.
What to watch in today's conditions
Wind
Current wind is about 0 mph from ESE, with gusts near 3 mph. Crosswind and gusts can change boat control and presentation, while bends and protected banks may remain much calmer.
Barometric pressure
Current NWS pressure is missing, so pressure is excluded from this update and the Fishing Score is visibly marked as partial.
Moon phase and light
The moon is currently in the Waxing Crescent phase with approximately 38% illumination. Lunar illumination has a smaller weight than the main weather factors.
Target species
SteelheadChinook salmonSmallmouth bass
Always verify current state fishing regulations, seasons, bag limits, licensing requirements and location-specific closures before fishing.
How this forecast is calculated
The Fishing Score starts with National Weather Service weather data: pressure 28%, wind 24%, cloud cover 18%, precipitation probability 18% and lunar illumination 12%. Missing weather factors are never treated as zero; partial weather results are pulled toward a neutral 5/10 according to the missing weight. On eligible river pages, a separate conservative USGS flow check can only reduce the current score when streamflow is unusually far from the long-term seasonal median or changing rapidly. It never increases the score.
Quick answers
Salmon River at White Bird fishing forecast FAQ
What is the Fishing Score for Salmon River at White Bird today?
The current Fishing Score is 6.5 out of 10 with 72% weighted data coverage. The score is partial and is pulled toward neutral conditions rather than assuming missing inputs are favorable.
What is the best fishing time at Salmon River at White Bird today?
The page highlights estimated low-light windows of 6:06 AM–8:21 AM and 7:19 PM–9:34 PM local time, centered around sunrise and sunset. They are planning windows, not guaranteed bite times.
What fish are commonly targeted at Salmon River at White Bird?
Common target species listed for Salmon River at White Bird include Steelhead, Chinook salmon, Smallmouth bass. Seasons, legal limits and local closures can change, so always verify current regulations before fishing.
What weather factors are used for Salmon River at White Bird?
The Fishing Score uses barometric pressure and trend, wind, cloud cover, precipitation probability and moon illumination. Missing inputs are excluded rather than treated as zero.
Does this page include USGS water conditions for Salmon River at White Bird?
Yes. This page uses the manually mapped Salmon River at White Bird ID reference station when fresh supported observations are available. Water temperature, streamflow or water level can appear depending on the station sensors. When approved long-term statistics are available, the page can compare the current reading with the seasonal median for the same calendar day. On river pages with at least 20 approved observations contributing to that calendar day, unusually extreme or rapidly changing flow may conservatively reduce the Fishing Score; water data never adds bonus points.
What is the water temperature at Salmon River at White Bird?
The latest supported USGS water-temperature observation shown on this page is 70.2°F from Salmon River at White Bird ID. Readings older than 48 hours are not presented as current.