LITTLE SALMON RIVER AT RIGGINS ID
USGS 13316500 · Idaho · reports discharge (live), gauge height
USGS 13316500 · Idaho · reports discharge (live), gauge height
What the agencies suggest
Approach the stream carefully and with a low profileIowa Department of Natural Resources
Fishing upstream will usually spook fewer fish than working downstreamIowa Department of Natural Resources
Deep pools and undercut banks provide refuge during sunny days and low waterMinnesota Department of Natural Resources
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST · provisional USGS data
Much below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 7:15 PM MDT to Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST; ranging 136 to 165 ft³/s; latest 140 ft³/s; shaded band: typical range (25th–75th percentile) for each date.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Normal, 25th–75th (ft³/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 PM MST | 138 | 2.37 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 11:00 AM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 10:00 AM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 9:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 8:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 7:00 AM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 6:00 AM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 5:00 AM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 4:00 AM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 3:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 2:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 1:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 181–254 |
| Nov 5, 12:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 181–254 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 PM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 PM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 PM MST | 140 | 2.38 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 PM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 PM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 PM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 11:00 AM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 10:00 AM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 9:00 AM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 8:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 7:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 6:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 5:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 4:00 AM MST | 143 | 2.39 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 3:00 AM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 2:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 1:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 4, 12:00 AM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 182–249 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 PM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 PM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 PM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 PM MST | 145 | 2.4 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 PM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 PM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 PM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 PM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 PM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 PM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 PM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 PM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 11:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 10:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 9:00 AM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 8:00 AM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 7:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 6:00 AM MST | 155 | 2.44 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 5:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 4:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 3:00 AM MST | 157 | 2.45 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 2:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 1:00 AM MST | 155 | 2.44 | 183–246 |
| Nov 3, 12:00 AM MST | 155 | 2.44 | 183–246 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 PM MST | 157 | 2.45 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 PM MST | 157 | 2.45 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 PM MST | 157 | 2.45 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 PM MST | 157 | 2.45 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 PM MST | 160 | 2.46 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 PM MST | 160 | 2.46 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 PM MST | 160 | 2.46 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 11:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 10:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 9:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 8:00 AM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 7:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 6:00 AM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 5:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 4:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 3:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 2:00 AM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 1:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 181–253 |
| Nov 2, 12:00 AM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 181–253 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 PM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 PM MST | 162 | 2.47 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 11:00 AM MST | 165 | 2.48 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 10:00 AM MST | 160 | 2.46 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 9:00 AM MST | 160 | 2.46 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 8:00 AM MST | 157 | 2.45 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 7:00 AM MST | 155 | 2.44 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 6:00 AM MST | 155 | 2.44 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 5:00 AM MST | 152 | 2.43 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 4:00 AM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 3:00 AM MST | 150 | 2.42 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 2:00 AM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MST | 148 | 2.41 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 1:00 AM MDT | 148 | 2.41 | 178–270 |
| Nov 1, 12:00 AM MDT | 145 | 2.4 | 178–270 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 PM MDT | 136 | 2.36 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 11:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 10:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 9:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 8:00 AM MDT | 136 | 2.36 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 7:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 6:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 5:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 4:00 AM MDT | 136 | 2.36 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 3:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 2:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 1:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 31, 12:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 176–266 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 PM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 PM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 11:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 10:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 9:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 8:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 7:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 6:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 5:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 4:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 3:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 2:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 1:00 AM MDT | 140 | 2.38 | 173–270 |
| Oct 30, 12:00 AM MDT | 138 | 2.37 | 173–270 |
| Oct 29, 11:00 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 174–252 |
| Oct 29, 10:00 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 174–252 |
| Oct 29, 9:00 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 174–252 |
| Oct 29, 8:00 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 174–252 |
| Oct 29, 7:15 PM MDT | 143 | 2.39 | 174–252 |
Map of USGS gauge 13316500 and the river around it
Where LITTLE SALMON RIVER AT RIGGINS ID sits and our water's map point.
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer: the trout lines Idaho Fish and Game uses are 66°F and 73°F.
Species the agency lists for Little Salmon River: Brook Trout, Bull Trout, Chinook Salmon, Mountain Whitefish, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead.
Source: IDFG Recommended Fishing Waters (Idaho Fishing Planner) (Idaho Department of Fish and Game).
Normal for Nov 5: 181–254 ft³/s (middle half of 74 years of record). Now: 140 ft³/s, much below normal.
Much below normal for this date. 140 ft³/s is below the 10th percentile of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 74 years of record (1952–2026): 10th 149, 25th 181, median 215, 75th 254, 90th 340 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 109 ft³/s, highest 593 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−2.1% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 2.38 ft stage, 140 ft³/s at Nov 5, 6:00 PM MST (NWS gauge RIGI1; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
NWS river forecast forecast issued Nov 5, 8:46 AM MST. Highest point: 2.49 ft, 167 ft³/s on Nov 14, 11:00 PM MST (Below NWS action stage).
| Day | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Thu, Nov 5 | 2.37 ft | 138 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 6 | 2.36 ft | 136 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 7 | 2.37 ft | 138 ft³/s |
| Sun, Nov 8 | 2.38 ft | 140 ft³/s |
| Mon, Nov 9 | 2.38 ft | 140 ft³/s |
| Tue, Nov 10 | 2.37 ft | 138 ft³/s |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 2.36 ft | 136 ft³/s |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 2.39 ft | 143 ft³/s |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 2.37 ft | 138 ft³/s |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 2.49 ft | 167 ft³/s |
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
Checked Nov 5, 7:07 PM MST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.