Steelhead Counts Picking Up

The number of steelhead migrating into Idaho is increasing, as counts over Lower Granite Dam have been in the thousands for about three weeks now. During the four day period ending on Sunday, October 4, the average count at Lower Granite was over 2,700 fish per day. While fish managers expect fewer steelhead to return to Idaho then they originally projected, enough are returning to provide good fishing opportunities for those hard fighting fish. "Although this run won't be as large as most runs we've seen in the last five years, it is important to realize that in these situations fewer people will often fish which reduces competition and keeps catch rates high," said Joe DuPont, fisheries manager based in Lewiston. "In fact, during the run of 2013, when the run was down in the Clearwater, I had several people commenting how they had some of their best steelhead fishing, as they had the river to themselves and caught a bunch of fish." Harvest season for steelhead opened August 1 on the Lower Clearwater downstream of the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge and on September 1 and in the Snake and Salmon rivers. The Clearwater River upstream of the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge, the Middle Fork, North Fork and South Fork Clearwater rivers are catch-and-release only until Oct. 15, when the harvest season in those sections opens. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, including seasons and rules, dam counts, and useful instructional videos, go to https://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=38.