Fish and Game Stocks Steelhead in the Boise River

Snow was falling lightly when Idaho Fish and Game unrolled the big blue hose and released steelhead into the Boise River Thursday, October 29. Anglers lined up on the upstream side of the Parkcenter Boulevard Bridge began catching the two-foot fish almost as soon as they left the truck. Fish and Game expects to stock fish in the Boise River again on Thursday afternoon between the Glenwood Bridge and Barber Park. If steelhead return to Oxbow Hatchery on the Snake River continues as forecast, Fish and Game anticipates stocking more than 1,500 steelhead in the Boise River from Glenwood Bridge to Barber Park this fall. Anglers hoping to tangle with one of the 4- to 10-pound hatchery steelhead need a fishing license and a $12.75 steelhead permit, good for 40 fish. Though required in other steelhead waters, barbless hooks are not required for Boise River steelhead angling. Steelhead stocked in the Boise River lack an adipose fin - the small fin normally found immediately behind the dorsal fin. Boise River anglers catching a rainbow trout longer than 20 inches that lacks an adipose fin should consider the fish a steelhead. Any steelhead caught by an angler not holding a steelhead permit must immediately be returned to the water. Steelhead limits on the Boise River are three fish per day, nine in possession, and 40 for the fall season. The fish are A-run hatchery steelhead, returning to the Idaho Power Co.-owned Oxbow Hatchery fish trap below Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River. Many of the returning steelhead will become part of the ongoing steelhead hatchery program at Oxbow Hatchery as part of Idaho Power's mitigation. For information about the Boise River steelhead release, contact the Fish and Game in Nampa at 208-465-8465 or check the Web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.