Another Good Steelhead Season Likely

Barring poor river conditions, Idaho steelhead anglers should have another good season coming after September 1. According to early predictions, about 170,700 steelhead could be on their way to Lower Granite Dam, the last barrier to entering Idaho fishing waters. If that figure holds up, it will be slightly more than twice the 10-year average, subtracting last year's epic run. About 85,000 steelhead at Lower Granite Dam is the average without considering the 260,000 that showed up last year. Last year's steelhead run overwhelmed Idaho hatcheries and provided some of the best steelheading anglers could remember. The predicted run this year would be about 66 percent of last year's. Some 400,000 steelhead are predicted to enter the Columbia River at Bonneville Dam this fall. Predictions are based on average conditions, however. If drought and high water temperature continue in Idaho, the bloom could fade from the rosy prediction. When water is low and too warm, steelhead will often stay in the Columbia River, not entering the Snake until waters cool. A high percentage of fish are lost before coming to Idaho when that happens.