Extra Fish For Idaho Waters

A surplus of hatchery steelhead fingerlings was recently planted into three southern Idaho reservoirs. These were A-run steelhead from the Niagara Springs Hatchery, owned by Idaho Power and operated by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (Department). A-run steelhead are a distinct strain of fish that enter the Columbia River in the summer months of June, July and August. They reach Idaho waters from August through the autumn months enroute to the Snake and Salmon Rivers. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has placed a limit on the number of hatchery steelhead that can be released by the Department into the Snake and Salmon Rivers. Any extra fish must be stocked into lakes or reservoirs where they cannot out-migrate. These fish were about four inches long when stocked in October. Unlike hatchery steelhead intended for the ocean, these fish did not have a clipped adipose fin. This is the small fleshy fin located between the dorsal and tail fins. The waters that received these fish were Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir (62,624 fish), the Snake River at Bell Rapids near Hagerman (84,960 fish) and American Falls Reservoir (330,995 fish). The Department wishes to thank Idaho Power for allowing these extra fish to be stocked into state waters for the future enjoyment of anglers.