Spring Steelhead Season Starts

For some anglers, the best thing about New Year's Day is the start of the spring steelhead season. The spring steelhead season runs from January 1 through April 30, with three exceptions. On the Little Salmon River the season runs through May 15; on the Salmon River from Lake Creek Bridge to Long Tom Creek, about a quarter mile upstream of the Middle Fork, the season ends March 31; and on the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam upstream to Oxbow Dam and the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam, the season ends May 31. Steelhead are in the Boise River and in the Snake River between Hells Canyon and Oxbow dams only when stocked by Idaho Fish and Game. About 1,000 steelhead were stocked in the Boise River and in the Hells Canyon Reservoir in November, and some will still be around for the spring season. Barbless hooks are not required on these waters, but anglers must have a steelhead permit to fish for and keep steelhead, which are rainbow trout longer than 20 inches with a clipped adipose fin. The spring steelhead limit is three fish per day, nine in possession and 20 for the season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing - even catch-and-release. Anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit. Steelhead anglers may use only barbless hooks, and may keep only hatchery steelhead marked with a clipped adipose fin. All other steelhead must be released unharmed immediately. Open waters for steelhead include:

• Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream from the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir, near the town of Stanley.
• 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 Oxbow Dam.
• Clearwater River Mainstem and Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Clear Creek.
• North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam.
• South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red Rivers.
• Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam.

In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2008 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds. Consult 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. Don't forget to buy a 2008 fishing license and steelhead permit.