Steelhead Season Continues with Some New Limits

Though the fall Chinook season is closing in most Idaho waters, there is still plenty of exciting fishing left. The steelhead harvest season is open on the Salmon, the Little Salmon, the lower Snake and on the Clearwater River, where limits have changed. In the Clearwater River drainage, the limits for the fall season and the spring 2014 season are one fish per day and two in possession. In addition, in the North Fork Clearwater River and the main stem Clearwater River downstream of the Orofino bridge only steelhead 28 inches or less in total length may be kept. The steelhead limit on the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon is three per day and nine in possession. Anglers may keep 20 steelhead 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 immediately. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?getPage=38.