WATERSPORTS -- River permits or the region’s world-class rafting streams are among the most coveted recreation reservations in the West -- and Saturday, Jan. 31, is the deadline to apply.

River runners sometimes can obtain no-show permits for the Selway, Salmon, Middle Fork Salmon and Hells Canyon Snake rivers. Also, a portion of available permits may be held back and issued daily at ranger stations.

But locking in a reservation for a major river trip is key to planning.

Savvy trippers get a group of people to apply for dates to boost their chances in lottery drawings. Maximum group size on the rivers generally is around 30. Midweek launch dates tend to be easier to get than Friday-Sunday dates.

The toughest permit to bag is for the Selway, with odds of 1 in 52 last year. The easiest permit is the Snake River in Hells Canyon, with odds of 1 in 7.

Following are some of the most sought-after permits in the region.

• Idaho’s Selway, Salmon, Middle Fork Salmon and the Snake River in Hells Canyon.

Deadline for online applications (no paper applications allowed): Jan. 31. Details: http://1.usa.gov/15VvY8k.

• Montana’s Smith River, a classic 59-mile multiday floating and fishing experience in Central Montana.

Deadline for applications: Feb. 19. Details: fwp.mt.gov.