Large Early Run Bodes Well for Steelhead Fishing

Steelhead fishing is open, catch-and-release only for now except in the lower Clearwater River. The harvest season opening dates for specific river sections are as listed below: Catch-and-release opened in the Clearwater River July 1, and fish are being caught. Harvest seasons in the Cleawater are as follows:

• Clearwater River, main stem from its mouth upstream to the Memorial Bridge of U.S. Highway 12 at Lewiston. The harvest season opened August 1.

In the rest of the Clearwater drainage the harvest season opens October 15.

• Clearwater River, main stem and Middle Fork Clearwater River: from the Memorial Bridge of U.S. Highway 12 at Lewiston upstream to Clear Creek.

Fishing is prohibited between posted boundaries about 100 yards upstream and downstream from the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Ladder and extending into the river channel about 50 yards. Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited.

• North Fork Clearwater River: from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam. Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited. Fishing from any watercraft or wading is prohibited between the posted lines about 150 yards upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River and the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge. When fishing from the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge, it is unlawful to take any fish downstream of the railroad bridge. Fishing from the railroad bridge is prohibited.
• South Fork Clearwater River: from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red rivers.

Harvest season for steelhead opens in the Snake and Salmon rivers September 1.

• Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the Lake Creek Bridge (about six miles upstream from the mouth of the Little salmon River.)
• Salmon River from its mouth upstream to a posted boundary 100 yards downstream of Sawtooth Hatchery.
• Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder road.
• Snake River from the Washington state line at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.

In addition, anglers can also harvest fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River from Lewiston to Hells Canyon Dam starting September 1. The hatchery fall Chinook salmon run to Idaho is forecast to be large, and anglers may harvest adipose fin-clipped fall Chinook during the early portion of the steelhead fishery in the Snake River. From September 1 until October 31, anglers in the Snake River who have a valid salmon permit may harvest two fall Chinook salmon per day, only one of which may be an adult and they may possess six fall Chinook salmon only three of which may be adults. Adult fall Chinook salmon are included in the annual 40 fish limit for salmon anglers. Anglers should check the 2010 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules for additional details.