Steelhead Season Opens On The Clearwater

Steelhead harvest fishing season opens Monday, October 15, on the Clearwater River above the Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 12 near Lewiston.

The steelhead season has been open below the bridge since August 1. The river opens upstream of Memorial Bridge to Clear Creek; the South Fork opens from its mouth to the confluence of American and Red rivers; and the North Fork opens from its mouth to Dworshak Dam. The fall seasons run through December 31.

The season already is under way on the lower Clearwater, Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. Check the 2006-2007 fishing rules book for river segments open to steelhead fishing.

So far this year, from June 1 through October 4, more than 82,000 steelhead have crossed Lower Granite Dam, the last of eight federal dams they must cross on their way back to Idaho.

Last year by this time, about 67,000 fish had crossed Lower Granite, and the 10-year average for this date is about 78,000 steelhead.

The steelhead limit on the Clearwater is two fish per day, six in possession and 20 for the season. Elsewhere, the limit is three steelhead per day, nine in possession and 20 for the season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch-and-release.

Anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit. They must stop fishing when the possession limit is reached - even catch-and-release. Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed immediately.

Open waters for steelhead are:

In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2007 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds.

Consult 2006-2007 fishing rules brochure for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.