Snake River run counts hit record low as fall sets in
Hatch Magazine reports the 2026 Columbia and Snake river run is the smallest ever recorded, with just over 52,000 fish tallied above Bonneville Dam since counting began July 1. Expect a thin fall return across the system, and plan trips around the water that is holding fish rather than around the numbers you hoped for.
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Expect the tally to keep rising through fall, but this run is far behind a normal year and will not catch up.
The window to plan around is the first sustained cooling spell, which usually turns the bite on as fish settle into fall feeding patterns. Fish the first mornings and evenings after it. The last-quarter moon means later moonrises, so low-light windows run into early morning.
Check the current river gauge before you go.
Context
Early-to-mid fall is a transition period on Idaho's Snake and Salmon rivers. Cooling water typically pushes fish into more predictable feeding lanes and firms up the bite through October. With the return this far below normal, the usual autumn pattern should play out with fewer fish, so success will depend more on reading the water than on numbers. Check state regs before harvesting, since seasons and limits change.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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