Steelhead Trout

Angler breaks catch/release steelhead record from the S.F. Clearwater River

Congratulations to Samuel Brumbaugh of Libby, Montana on his new state record steelhead. During a mid-April trip to the South Fork Clearwater, the young angler landed this 38-inch steelhead, topping the old record of 37-inches that was caught in Dec. 2018. 

April 29: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report

During the week of April 22, steelhead angler effort on the upper Salmon River was limited to the upper areas of location code 19 near Stanley. No interviews were obtained downstream of the East Fork Salmon River due to increased river flows and poor visibility. Anglers that were interviewed in location 19 averaged 5 hours per steelhead caught and 24 hours per steelhead kept.

As of Friday, April 26, the Pahsimeroi Hatchery has trapped 2,232 hatchery steelhead, and as of Thursday, April 25, the Sawtooth Hatchery has trapped 1,649 hatchery steelhead.

Steelhead to be stocked in Blue Mountain Meadow and Squaw Creek ponds

Personnel from Idaho Fish and Game's Pahsimeroi Hatchery will release 100 steelhead each in Blue Mountain Meadow Pond and Squaw Creek Pond by Friday, April 26.

Blue Mountain Meadow Pond is adjacent to the golf course in Challis. Squaw Creek Pond is located about 3 miles west of Clayton on Highway 75, then north across the Salmon River on the Squaw Creek Road .8 of a mile.

The trout limit is 6, all species combined. Steelhead stocked in ponds are considered in the trout bag limit. Both ponds will also receive hundreds of catchable rainbow trout in the coming weeks.

April 22: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report

During the week of April 15th, steelhead angler effort on the upper Salmon River was mainly observed upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19. Angler effort downstream of the East Fork was low, and few interviews were obtained from location codes 17 and 18.

April 15: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report

Over the week of April 8th, the majority of steelhead angler effort on the upper Salmon River was located upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19. Angler effort in areas downstream of the East Fork was low.

Anglers interviewed downstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 17 averaged 18 hours per steelhead caught, and anglers interviewed upstream of the Pahsimeroi River in location code 18 averaged 20 hours per steelhead caught. Upstream of the East Fork in location code 19, interviewed anglers averaged 4 hours per steelhead caught.

Steelhead to be stocked in Blue Mountain and Kids Creek ponds

Personnel from Fish and Game's Pahsimeroi Hatchery will release 100 steelhead each in Blue Mountain Pond and Kids Creek Pond by Thursday, April 11.

Steelhead smolt transportation and release season is underway in Idaho

The spring 2019 steelhead fishing season is winding down, but Fish and Game staff is releasing 5.75 million young steelhead into Idaho's rivers for their downstream migration to the Pacific, which will be the next generation of fish returning to Idaho. 

April 8: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report

During the week of April 1, the majority of steelhead angler effort on the upper Salmon River was located either near the Pahsimeroi River confluence or upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19. Angler effort downstream of Salmon was minimal and no angler interviews were obtained.

See comments and details about Idaho's steelhead Fishery Management Plan

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game received authorization for its steelhead fishery from the National Marine Fisheries Service in March, which determined that Idaho’s Fishery Management and Evaluation Plan provides the necessary protection for salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act. 

Fish and Game officials reviewed over 1,000 comments that were received during the public comment period on the plan and identified 15 issues. They included: 

April 1: Upper Salmon River Steelhead fishing report

During the week of March 25, steelhead angler effort continued to shift upstream of Salmon with the majority of anglers observed near the Pahsimeroi River confluence and upstream of the East Fork Salmon River in location code 19.