IDFG stocking records show Atlantic Salmon stocked in 1990 and 1992–1995. Idaho’s certified-weight state record, 13.25 lb, was caught in Deadwood in October 1995. Current IDFG recommended species and recent surveys do not list Atlantic Salmon, so FishyNW treats this as historical unless new evidence appears.
Atlantic Salmon
Salmo salar
Atlantic Salmon occurs in FishyNW waters across the Inland Northwest. This page only shows sections that are relevant to this species and supported by FishyNW data. Presence does not guarantee abundance, legal harvest, or an open season, so verify current rules for the exact water before fishing.
StatusIntroduced historical
FishyNW statesID
Linked locations1
Guide updated2026-08-25
FishyNW species intelligence
Biology, timing, depth and population types
Atlantic Salmon are not native to the FishyNW region. The strongest FishyNW linkage is historical Idaho stocking in Deadwood Reservoir, where IDFG stocked Atlantic Salmon in the early-to-mid 1990s and the standing Idaho state record came from Deadwood in 1995. FishyNW should present this as a historical/legacy fishery unless a current population is independently verified.
Identification
- Atlantic Salmon have a relatively slender body, usually with dark X-shaped or irregular spots concentrated above the lateral line.
- The caudal peduncle is relatively narrow and the tail is often less heavily spotted than Pacific Chinook.
- Unlike Pacific salmon, Atlantic Salmon can survive spawning and may spawn more than once.
- Identification in the Northwest deserves extra caution because Atlantic Salmon are uncommon and misidentification with Pacific salmonids is possible.
Biology and life history
- Native to the North Atlantic drainage, not the Pacific Northwest.
- Anadromous populations hatch in rivers, migrate to the Atlantic Ocean, then return to freshwater to spawn. Landlocked forms live in large lakes and migrate into tributaries to spawn.
- Juveniles commonly spend multiple years in freshwater before smolting. Adults feed heavily on fish in marine or lake environments.
- Unlike Chinook and Coho, Atlantic Salmon are iteroparous: some survive spawning and can reproduce again.
Run and migration timing
- Wild North American Atlantic Salmon runs are an Atlantic-coast phenomenon and should not be generalized to FishyNW waters.
- Landlocked Atlantic Salmon typically make tributary spawning movements in autumn, with exact timing controlled by local temperature and hydrology.
- Deadwood Reservoir should be treated as historical stocking evidence rather than a current run-timing fishery until current survey evidence exists.
Depth and vertical behavior
- Landlocked Atlantic Salmon are open-water predators that can suspend with forage and use cold, oxygenated layers in stratified lakes.
- A fixed depth is not defensible across waters. Electronics, forage location and thermal structure should determine fishing depth.
- In cold seasons they may use a broader vertical range; summer fish often concentrate in cooler pelagic habitat.
Seasonal pattern
- Spring: expanding cold-water habitat can bring landlocked fish shallower and closer to smelt or other forage.
- Summer: fish commonly shift toward cooler pelagic water and temperature breaks.
- Fall: mature landlocked adults may approach tributaries for spawning migrations.
- Winter: deep-lake populations can remain active around pelagic forage where fisheries are open.
Fishing approach
- Where genuine landlocked fisheries exist, trolling spoons, plugs and baitfish imitations around pelagic forage is a common approach.
- Because FishyNW currently has only historical Idaho evidence, the site should not imply a modern targeted Atlantic Salmon fishery without current agency confirmation.
- Any unexpected Atlantic Salmon catch in Northwest waters should be identified carefully and checked against current state rules.
Population and water-linkage types
Native anadromous Atlantic populationLandlocked natural populationIntroduced/stocked landlocked populationHistorical/legacy stocking
Notable FishyNW water relationships
Identification and status
Historical FishyNW linkage: Idaho Fish and Game stocked Atlantic Salmon in Deadwood Reservoir in the early-to-mid 1990s, and the Idaho state record came from Deadwood in 1995. Current IDFG recommended species and recent survey lists do not show Atlantic Salmon, so FishyNW does not represent Deadwood as a verified current Atlantic Salmon fishery.
Lake and reservoir linkages for Atlantic Salmon
Showing regional matches. Location stays on this device and is not stored.
Official species references
Seasons, harvest rules, bait restrictions, protected-species requirements, and emergency closures can change. Confirm the rules for the exact lake or river reach before fishing.