Last Truck of Steelhead Heads for Boise

The third and, for this season, last fish transport truck with steelhead aboard is scheduled to arrive at the Boise River Thursday, November 17. Idaho Fish and Game will have released about 1,000 adult steelhead from the Hells Canyon hatchery into the urban fishery this fall. The steelhead will go into the river at several locations from Glenwood Bridge to Barber Park. People who want a close view of these big anadromous fish can see several of them in the viewing window at the MK Nature Center at 600 South Walnut. There is no admission fee at the outdoor facility. About 3,600 steelhead were trapped this fall at the Idaho Power-funded Hells Canyon fish trap, then transported to Oxbow Fish Hatchery. About 600 were kept for broodstock there and the rest were split between Idaho and Oregon anglers and a Nez Perce Tribe subsistence program. Steelhead still in the river will remain for the sport fishery below Hells Canyon Dam. As part of the mitigation for stopping Idaho and Oregon steelhead runs above the Hells Canyon complex of power dams, Idaho Power Company pays for the operation of Oxbow Hatchery and the trapping of steelhead at Hells Canyon Dam.