What will steelhead fishing look like on the Boise River this fall?

With the 2026 fall steelhead return shaping up to be one of the lowest returns on record, this fall’s outlook has not been promising. In mid-September, Fish and Game reduced statewide steelhead bag limits as a conservation measure to reduce impacts to natural-origin spawners and ensure hatchery broodstock objectives were met. If you’re a Treasure Valley angler, you might be wondering what all this bad news might mean for stocking steelhead in the Boise River this fall. 

The answer is that our staff will not know until after the second week of November at the earliest. Our Boise River steelhead come from surplus fish after broodstock objectives are met at Oxbow Hatchery. Fish are collected in a trap below Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River beginning the first week of November. During years when steelhead returns are lower, it may take up to two weeks to catch the 600 fish required for broodstock. Surplus fish are split equally between Idaho, Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe. 

As soon as stocking plans are finalized, Fish and Game will put out a news release. Anglers can be on the lookout around Nov. 20 for Boise River steelhead news to hit our website and social media channels. Typically, when IDFG stocks the Boise River once during those slower years, anglers can usually expect the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  

Interested in reading more about this year’s steelhead returns? Fish and Game’s Clearwater Regional Fish Manager Joe Thiessen has an informative article that lays out additional information on how the 2026 return compares to previous years and theories as to why steelhead returns are lower this year. 

Some additional background on stocking the Boise River with steelhead 

Salmon and steelhead historically returned to the Boise River until around 1958 when the Brownlee Dam was completed. Since 1983, Fish and Game and Idaho Power Company have stocked surplus steelhead from the Oxbow Fish Hatchery into the Boise River when fish are available.  

During the past 30 years, the Boise River has received steelhead every year except for 2019. The 2026 return is projected to be similar to the 2019 return, so anglers should be aware that there may not be enough fish available this year to stock steelhead in the Boise River. As the number of steelhead returning to Idaho have declined, so has the total number of steelhead stocked into the Boise River.  

From 2000–2009, the Boise River received an average of 1,086 steelhead which dropped to approximately 504 fish per year between 2010-2019. From 2020-2025, the Boise River has been stocked with an average of 379 fish per year.