Steelhead Season Opens September 1

The Idaho fall steelhead season begins September 1 with a run of fish that may be twice as good as the average. Steelhead cannot be kept on the Clearwater River until October 15. Only steelhead with a clipped adipose fin may be kept on any Idaho water. All steelhead with an intact adipose fin are either naturally produced fish or hatchery fish which have been left unclipped for experimental purposes to help rebuild natural production, and must be released unharmed immediately. Steelhead fishing usually attracts few anglers until river water temperatures drop enough to encourage fishable numbers of steelhead to run actively upstream, normally early to mid-October. According to early predictions, about 170,000 steelhead could be on their way to Lower Granite Dam, the last barrier before entering Idaho fishing waters. If that figure holds up, it will be about twice the 10-year average, subtracting last year's epic run. About 85,000 steelhead at Lower Granite Dam is the average, without considering the 260,000 that showed up last year. Last year's steelhead run overwhelmed Idaho hatcheries and provided some of the best steelheading anglers could remember. The predicted run this year would be about 66 percent of last year's. More than 400,000 steelhead are predicted to enter the Columbia River at Bonneville Dam this fall. Steelhead anglers must have a fishing license and a steelhead tag ($11.50). The tag is notched immediately when a steelhead is taken into an angler's possession. Nonresidents need either a full season license ($74.50) and a permit or a three-day license/permit ($28.50). Limits are two steelhead per day, four in possession and 10 for the season, which ends December 31. Steelhead may be taken only with barbless hooks on the Salmon, Snake and Clearwater drainages. Only one fishing rod may be used for steelhead fishing, even if the angler has a two-pole validation.