During their meeting on Nov. 16, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved modifications to the 2022 spring steelhead season daily bag limits.
For any anglers looking to hook a steelhead during the upcoming 2022 spring season, here’s what’s will be in effect. Anglers should note that the modified steelhead bag limits will not be included in the printed version of the 2022-2024 Fishing Seasons and Rules booklet hitting shelves later in January 2022.
Snake River
- Starting Jan. 1, the daily bag limit is two steelhead on the Snake River.
Clearwater River
- Starting Jan. 1, the daily bag limit is one steelhead on the Mainstem, Middle Fork, North Fork and South Fork Clearwater rivers.
Salmon River (including Little Salmon River)
- Starting Jan. 1, the daily bag limit is two steelhead.
The commission did not modify steelhead bag limits for Hells Canyon Reservoir or the Boise River.
Fish and Game fisheries managers monitor steelhead returns annually and projected the 2021-2022 run year to be one of the lower returns in the last 20 years.
“This was a case where we were unfortunately correct,” noted Lance Hebdon, Fisheries Bureau Chief.
At Lower Granite Dam, steelhead counts have been well below the 10-year average. The Commission adopted reduced daily bag limits for steelhead statewide for the fall 2021 season to help ensure the fisheries allowed enough steelhead escaped fisheries to make it to the hatcheries. Steelhead returns to the Salmon River and to Hells Canyon dam were later than normal.
“When salmon or steelhead returns are late, the run appears smaller than it actually is,” Hebdon said. “Now that we have a more complete picture of the steelhead return we are confident that the two-fish limit on the Salmon and Snake rivers will provide sufficient fish to meet hatchery goals and provide more opportunity for steelhead anglers.”
For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding steelhead fishing, check out the Steelhead Seasons and Rules page on Fish and Game's website.