Steelhead Trout

Steelhead make their final push to the headwaters of Idaho’s famous steelhead streams during spring, which concentrates them in the upper tributaries of the Clearwater and Salmon river systems.  

Once again, Idaho Fish and Game is asking anglers to catch adult steelhead from the South Fork Clearwater River that will be used for hatchery spawners. Through early April, Fish and Game staff will be on the river from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, distributing tubes at popular fishing holes and signing up anglers interested in participating in the program.

The primary purpose of moving hatchery steelhead to the lower Boise River is to create additional fishing opportunity for anglers. How many of those steelhead are actually caught is a question Fish and Game has tried to previously answer numerous times using various methods, and a recent study confirmed a high proportion of Boise River steelhead are harvested, and the program is achieving its goal.