Steelhead Coming to Boise River

Treasure Valley anglers who want to catch a steelhead without burning a tank of gas will have that opportunity. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will begin planting adult steelhead in the Boise River on Thursday, November 3. Fish and Game is trapping the fish in Hells Canyon in cooperation with Idaho Power Corporation. In surplus years, steelhead are moved to the Boise River to mitigate for the loss of fisheries caused by the Hells Canyon complex of dams. Before the dams were built steelhead returned to spawn in the Boise, Payette and Weiser rivers. Anglers fishing for steelhead must have a valid fishing license and a steelhead permit. The statewide limits for steelhead are three per day, nine in possession and 20 per season. When fishing the Boise River anglers are not required to use barbless hooks, because there is no chance they will catch a wild steelhead.