Ram House Lodge
Idaho Backcountry Escape at Mackay Bar
Wilderness Escape and Steelhead Fishing Lodge
Experience the Salmon River at The Ram House Lodge
Mackay Bar Fishing Lodge Idaho’s Best Steelhead Fishing on the Salmon River
Jet Boat – Wilderness Fishing | Ram House Lodge
Experience world-class Idaho steelhead fishing from our remote Mackay Bar Fishing Lodge, located deep in the heart of the Frank Church “River of No Return” Wilderness. Accessible only by jet boat on the Salmon River, Ram House Lodge at Mackay Bar offers anglers an unmatched opportunity to pursue one of the Northwest’s most sought-after sport fish—Idaho steelhead — in a truly wild setting.
Situated at the confluence of the Salmon River and South Fork, more than 25 miles beyond the end of the road, the Ram House at Mackay Bar is perfectly positioned to fish both wild and hatchery steelhead stocks. This prime location, combined with low fishing pressure and pristine waters, creates exceptional chances to hook the fish of a lifetime in one of the most remote fishing destinations in the lower 48 states.
Our guided steelhead fishing trips are led by experienced, knowledgeable guides who know the Salmon River, its history, and its fisheries inside and out. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to steelhead fishing, we provide everything you need—top-quality tackle, expert instruction, hearty riverside lunches, and exceptional lodge meals. Trips begin with a jet boat departure from Vinegar Creek at the end of Big Salmon Road, approximately 26 miles from Riggins, with arrivals at the lodge around 3:00 PM and return trips concluding near 2:00 PM on the final day.
Beyond the fishing, Ram House Lodge at Mackay Bar delivers a true backcountry lodge experience. Unplug and reconnect while enjoying evenings around the campfire, relaxing on the riverfront deck, or exploring the surrounding wilderness. Guests can visit historic sites like Buckskin Bill’s homestead, fish the blue-ribbon trout waters of the South Fork, or simply take in the serenity and wildlife of the Salmon River Canyon.
If you’re searching for Idaho’s best steelhead fishing lodge— remote, authentic, and unforgettable — the Ram House Lodge deliver an experience few ever get to reach.
- Salmon River | Vinegar Creek Boat Ramp
- March - November
Ram House Lodge Includes:
- Scenic jet boat ride through the legendary Salmon River and its deep canyon wilderness
- Prime Mackay Bar Location — Situated at the confluence of the Salmon River and South Fork
- Frank Church “River of No Return” Wilderness — Experience Idaho steelhead fishing in one of the most pristine and remote areas in the lower 48
- Outstanding wildlife viewing—bighorn sheep and bald eagles are common, with chances to spot bears, otters, and osprey
- Historic sites and river stories shared by knowledgeable, local captains
- Comfortable Wilderness Lodge — Stay at Ram House Lodge with hearty meals, riverfront views, and relaxing evenings by the fire
- True Backcountry Experience — Disconnect, slow down, and fish Idaho’s legendary steelhead waters the way they were meant to be fished











Ram House Lodge
Experience the River of No Return
3 Day Wilderness Escape
- Salmon River: Jet Boat Adventure
Price: $795 per person
Overnight Lodge Tour
- Salmon River: Jet Boat Tour
Price: $395 per person
3 Day Steelhead Fishing
- Salmon River: All-inclusive Lodge Trip
Price: $5495 up to 6 guests
Let's Book Your Adventure
Your adventure with S & S River Outfitters is just a click away. Whether you’re chasing whitewater, wildlife, history, or pure wilderness relaxation, we’ll take care of the details—you just bring your sense of adventure.
Give us a Call: (208) 628-3733
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING
Excellent rating
Based on 78 reviewsVerified Fun on the Salmon River Our guide Aiden did a great job and provided my dad and I with a memorable fishing experience. This was our first drift boat fishing experience and we enjoyed it Lisa PNovember 25, 2025Verified Amazing trip! Amazing experience! Our guide took us up Hells Canyon and made it a trip we will never forget. Truly an enjoyable experience. Stacey DAugust 26, 2025Verified A memorable trip on the Salmon River! Terrific ride, tour & tales with Jess on the Salmon River!Brenda’s cooking is 5 star and abundant!Brenda made us welcome in their home.They know the area, love what they do and are gracious & accommodating hosts.It was another summer memory!May their success continue! Pamela RAugust 22, 2025Verified A great day out on the Salmon River on a jet boat. We had a great day out on the boat. The captain was great as was the deckhand. The scenery was beautiful. Enjoyed the time at Mollys cabin. The captain shared her story with us. Paula KJuly 19, 2025Verified Exceptional amazing Highly recommend. Excellent food. Excellent hospitality. Very clean cabins. They wonderful went above and beyond making our trip up the river our one night stay and back down the river a great adventure. Definitely going back with this company. Aja PJune 17, 2025Verified WOW!! This is our third trip on the Snake River with Peyton. I must say Peyton is very knowledgeable of the country and surroundings and a great River pilot. On our 8-hour day trip we caught two sturgeon released and numerous Bass. Give it a try you will love it. Verne Smith Homer28June 15, 2025Verified Unforgettable Jetboat tour Unforgettable Jet Boating Adventure!We had an absolutely epic full-day jet boating trip with Mountain River Outfitters, and it was nothing short of amazing! The river was running high with big water, making for an exhilarating and unforgettable ride. Mike, our captain, was incredible—his skill, knowledge, and sense of adventure made the entire experience safe, thrilling, and full of fun. From jaw-dropping rapids to stunning canyon views and great company, it was truly a day to remember. Huge thanks to Mountain River Outfitters for an outstanding adventure—we’ll be talking about this one for a long time! John VMay 13, 2025Verified Great Fishing trip with MRO 4th trip with Salmon river outfitters MRO. Had an amazing day. Weather was poor very windy, but Aiden was STELLAR handling the Drift Boat. Caught a whale of a steelhead. Hatchery fish Measuring 33”. A real trophy. Caught a couple salmon but released them. Erin SNovember 16, 2024Verified The NLBs Beautiful scenery, quiet little town. Our guide, Aiden, was very knowledgeable of the area and fishing techniques. He had a great attitude and kept the trip fun wether we were getting fish or not. We were out 3 days and got into some fish every day. Amazing experience and will definitely book again. William NNovember 16, 2024
Excellent rating
Based on 18 reviewsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Took a jet boat fishing trip up the Salmon River in early November this year. I have been fishing this river for the past 4 years, my first with S &S Outfitters. It was by far the best experience ever. Our guide, Brian, was fantastic, organized and funny. We cannot wait for our trip next year. Shane SullivanDecember 4, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Went on a 3 day 2 night trip called a cast and blast. The trip and guide service food at camp and the jet boat were absolutely second to none. This fishing and hunting trip was the most fun I have had in a long time. The camp cook prepared our breakfast and diners at camp and was far better than going out to eat anywhere. If there was an option for 10 stars these guys absolutely nailed it I will definitely be booking another trip in the future and if possible every year moving forward. We had Captain Peyton, and deck mate Aiden for a crew on the jet boat and they gave a little bit of history in Hells Canyon. Jon DevonOctober 6, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was the first time for most of us Bass/Sturgeon fishing!! Mike and Aiden were amazing guides, we all caught bass and we caught 4 Sturgeon... with our last one being over 8 ft!! This will definitely be a new annual trip for us!! Thank you Mike and Aiden for having such a great sense of humor and making our experience unforgettable!! Tina KelleySeptember 9, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We loved our trip! Our guide was great, the boat ride was fun and exciting, and lunch was delicious! It was a perfect day! Desiree RowlandSeptember 9, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Took a jet boat ride through Hells Canyon from Pittsburg Landing boat launch with Captain Brian. A great ride and day spent on the Snake River. Brian was fantastic host and guide. Gave us a lot of history of various sites along the river, and he was spot on with fishing spots for smallmouth bass catching and releasing. I would recommend this outfitters company for the experience. And Brian would be your man for a fun, safe and great experience on the Snake River Donald BuchananSeptember 5, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great trip S&S are awesome. Very knowledgeable about the river and the conditions. We brought our friends from Kentucky down and everybody had a fantastic time. Would highly recommend anybody that wants to raft The salmon only call S&S river outfitters. 100% Jeff LewisSeptember 1, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I'm not one to leave reviews as I'm a little old-fashioned. But I have to say Peyton and Aiden did a fabulous job on our sturgeon trip this last weekend. These guys kept us safe, yet made it feel like they were part of our group of friends fishing. They put us on the fish and gave us an epic boat ride. I've got to say if you're looking to have a really good time, these are your guys. We all look forward to our next trip with S & S and will be talking about this one for a long time. Great job, guys. My son will remember his bachelor party forever, and you helped make it happen. Rob JewettMay 20, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great place to stay and the food was delicious. Fishing was superb and most definitely will do this again. Thank you Jess and Brenda!! Abran MunizApril 7, 2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jess and Brenda are great hosts and offer fantastic trips. Just finished a spring steelhead trip that was absolutely the best. The food and lodging are great and the boat and fishing guide are the best on the river. Doug Von BergenMarch 16, 2025Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
We fish some of the most spectacular wilderness in the country. With permits covering more river miles in Idaho than any other fishing outfitter, we can always put you on the fish. If conditions aren’t ideal in one area, we simply move to another. Using jet boats or drift boats, we access remote water few others can reach—delivering the best possible fishing experience every time.
Hells Canyon offers some of the best year-round fishing opportunities in Idaho. The Snake River’s consistent water temperatures create one of the highest fish-per-mile river sections in the region, supporting a diverse and healthy fishery. Anglers can target steelhead, trout, smallmouth bass, prehistoric white sturgeon, and fall Chinook salmon. Our custom jet boats are designed to safely navigate the canyon’s challenging whitewater, providing reliable access to prime fishing areas and a truly memorable river experience.
The “River of No Return” the Salmon River is the largest undammed river in the lower 48 states, with hundreds of miles of natural spawning habitat for wild steelhead. Flowing largely through protected wilderness, the Salmon River offers breathtaking scenery and abundant wildlife throughout its corridor. It is nationally recognized for strong runs of both wild and hatchery steelhead, along with excellent opportunities for trout, bass, and salmon fishing.
Fishing Season Calendar