Trip type ยท Fishing
Fishing float trips: overnight rafting trips for anglers
Multi day fishing trips on six western rivers, with the license and river rules you need before you cast.
Quick answer
Fishing float trips use a drift boat or raft to carry anglers between fishing spots and riverside camps. On the rivers we compare, outfitters run overnight fishing trips on the Middle Fork Salmon, the Selway, the Deschutes, the John Day, the Grande Ronde and the Rogue. You need a state fishing license, and each river has its own rules.
Fishing trips
Overnight fishing float trips by river
Outfitters that list fishing trips or fishing boats on the rivers we compare.
| Outfitter | River | Trip | Boats | From | Check dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork River Tours | Middle Fork Salmon | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights on fishing charters | Drift boat on request | $3,9505 day, 4 night fishing charter. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Middle Fork River Tours |
| Aggipah River Trips | Middle Fork Salmon | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights, including fishing trips | Two person fishing boat | Not listed for fishing tripsIts 5 day pre season trip lists $2,500. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Aggipah River Trips |
| ARTA | Middle Fork Salmon | 6 days, 5 nights | Fishing raft | $3,2996 day, 5 night trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with ARTA |
| Helfrich River Outfitters | Middle Fork Salmon | 4 days, 3 nights to 6 days, 5 nights | Drift boat, fishing raft | Not listedPriced by group size and trip type. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Helfrich River Outfitters |
| Tightlines | Middle Fork Salmon | 6 days, 5 nights | Drift boat | Not listedPrices not shown on the page we checked. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Tightlines |
| Hughes River Expeditions | Selway | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights | Oar, paddle | $5,600Fishing trip. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Hughes River Expeditions |
| ARTA | Selway | 5 days, 4 nights to 6 days, 5 nights | Fishing rafts late July and August | $5,200Starting price; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with ARTA |
| Helfrich River Outfitter | Rogue | 3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nights | Drift boat | $1,2503 day, 2 night camping trip; 2022 price, the latest shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Helfrich River Outfitter |
| The Fly Fishers Place | Deschutes | 2 days, 1 night to 3 days, 2 nights | Drift boat | $2,500Group rate for 1 or 2 anglers, 2 day, 1 night trip, 2025. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with The Fly Fishers Place |
| Water Time Outfitters | Deschutes | 2 to 4 days, 1 to 3 nights | Drift boat, power boat | $1,2002 day steelhead trip; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Water Time Outfitters |
| Bend Fly Shop | John Day | 3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nights (bass) | Drift boat | $1,650Per angler, 3 day, 2 night trip, 4 angler minimum; year not shown. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Bend Fly Shop |
| Little Creek Outfitters | John Day | 4 to 5 days, 3 to 4 nights (bass) | Raft | $600 a dayPer angler per day (2025). Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Little Creek Outfitters |
| Rogue River Outfitters | Grande Ronde | 3 days, 2 nights to 4 days, 3 nights | Drift boat | $1,6753 day, 2 night trout fishing trip, 2027. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Rogue River Outfitters |
| Minam Store Outfitters | Grande Ronde | Fishing trips 4 days, 3 nights | Raft | Not listed for fishing tripsIts 3 day, 2 night trip lists $995. Checked Sep 2026 | See dates with Minam Store Outfitters |
From each outfitter's own site, checked September 2026, as listed on our river pages. Fishing prices are often per angler or per boat. Confirm when booking.
Before you cast
Fishing licenses for Idaho, Oregon and Washington
| State | Who needs one | Nonresident prices | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 14 and older | Annual $108; daily $22.75 for the first day, plus $7 for each day after | Fish caught by kids under 14 count toward a licensed adult's limit. Page shows no year. IDFG fees |
| Oregon | 18 and older; youth license $10 for ages 12 to 17 | Annual $138; 7 day $117; 1, 2 or 3 day $29, $48 or $68 (2026) | A Combined Angling Tag ($89 nonresident) is needed for salmon, steelhead and sturgeon, even catch and release. ODFW license guide |
| Washington | 16 and older | Combination 1, 2 or 3 day $27.05, $39.19 or $48.30 (2026) | A catch record card is needed for steelhead, at any age. WDFW fees |
From each state's wildlife agency, checked October 11, 2026. Buy online before the trip; there is no store on the river.
River rules
Rules worth knowing on each river
| River | State | Rules worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Fork Salmon | Idaho | Trout are catch and release only. No bait; barbless hooks required (2025 to 2027 rules, IDFG). |
| Selway | Idaho | Above Selway Falls, where trips float, IDFG lists Clearwater Region general rules: 2 trout. Below the falls: barbless hooks, no bait, 2 trout, none under 14 inches. IDFG proposed changes above the falls in 2024, so check the current rules (IDFG). |
| Deschutes | Oregon | No angling from a floating device: you fish from the bank or wading. 2 rainbow trout a day, 10 to 13 inches. No wild steelhead harvest (2026 Central Zone rules). |
| John Day | Oregon | Open all year for bass, with no bass limit. ODFW calls it "one of the finest bass fisheries in the country" (ODFW). |
| Grande Ronde | Oregon and Washington | On the Oregon side, wild rainbow trout must be released; hatchery steelhead seasons run January to April and September to December. Longer trips that continue to the Snake cross into Washington, which has its own license and rules. |
| Rogue | Oregon | Closed from 400 feet below Rainie Falls up to the falls. Wild rainbow and cutthroat trout must be released. |
From IDFG's fishing planner and Oregon's 2026 rules as published on eregulations.com, which ODFW links as its official rules site; checked October 11, 2026. Rules change by year and by section; check before you go.
On the water
Fishing on a regular rafting trip
You do not need a fishing trip to fish. On many overnight trips there is time to cast from camp in the evening or at lunch stops. Bring a license for the state and a rod that breaks down, and ask the outfitter where it can ride.
On a fishing trip the day is built around the fish: a guide rows a drift boat or fishing raft and stops at the runs. ARTA brings fishing rafts on the Middle Fork and on Selway trips in late July and August.
Weight limits apply on trips that fly in. OARS lists 35 pounds per person with Gem Air on its Middle Fork and Main Salmon trip. See what to pack.
Questions
Fishing float trip questions
Can you fish on an overnight rafting trip?
Often, yes, from camp or at stops, if you bring a license for the state. Some outfitters also run trips built around fishing, with drift boats or fishing rafts. Ask before you book whether there is room for rods and time to fish.
What is a fishing float trip?
A river trip where the boat carries you between fishing spots and camps. On the trips we list, outfitters use drift boats, fishing rafts or oar rafts, and the guide rows.
Do I need a fishing license on a guided trip?
Yes. Idaho requires one from age 14, Washington from 16 and Oregon from 18, with a $10 youth license for 12 to 17. Oregon also requires a Combined Angling Tag for salmon, steelhead and sturgeon, even catch and release.
Can you keep fish on the Middle Fork Salmon?
Not trout. IDFG's rules make trout catch and release only on the Middle Fork and its tributaries, with no bait and barbless hooks.
Can you fish from the raft on the Deschutes?
No. Oregon's rules say no angling from a floating device on the lower Deschutes, so you fish from the bank or wading.
Which river is best for bass?
ODFW calls the John Day "one of the finest bass fisheries in the country," and it is open all year for bass. Bend Fly Shop and Little Creek Outfitters run multi day bass trips there.
How much does a fishing float trip cost?
From $600 per angler per day with Little Creek Outfitters on the John Day (2025) to $5,600 for Hughes River Expeditions' Selway fishing trip, on outfitters' own sites checked September 2026. Many fishing trips are priced per angler or per boat.
Do I need my own gear?
Ask the outfitter. Rods, flies and waders vary by trip, and weight limits apply on trips that fly in.
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Pick a river, then a boat
Compare the fishing outfitters on each river, then check dates with the one you choose.