More Steelhead This Fall

In the spring of 2014 anglers on the Clearwater River were fishing for an unusually small run of "B-run" steelhead. Because steelhead overwinter in freshwater, they start arriving in August, but don't spawn until spring. As anglers continue to harvest hatchery steelhead through the winter and spring, the number of available hatchery fish diminishes. The return that began last fall was small enough that fisheries managers were forced to reduce the limit, to allow anglers continued opportunity through spring, and on a large stretch of the Clearwater there was zero harvest of steelhead longer than 28 inches. 2014 is a much better year for steelhead, and the return of the larger "B-run" fish is especially healthy. This fall, Clearwater anglers are allowed to keep two steelhead 20 inches or longer per day. The possession limit on the Clearwater is six steelhead and anglers are allowed to keep 20 steelhead for the season statewide. Only steelhead with a missing adipose fin evidenced by a healed scar may be harvested. In addition to good numbers of steelhead, anglers on the Clearwater are catching fall Chinook salmon, and coho salmon which they are now allowed to harvest.