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JULY 29, 2010

July 29, 2010

Large early run bodes well for summer steelhead fishing

By Ed Mitchell, IDFG

   Steelhead fishing is open, catch-and-release only for now, or opens soon in the waters listed below:

   Catch-and-release opened in the Clearwater River July 1, and fish are being caught.

-  Clearwater River, main stem from its mouth upstream to the Memorial Bridge of U.S. Hwy. 12 at Lewiston. The harvest season opens Aug. 1.

   In the rest of the Clearwater drainage the harvest season opens Oct. 15.

-  Clearwater River, main stem and Middle Fork Clearwater River: from the Memorial Bridge of Hwy. 12 at Lewiston upstream to Clear Creek.

   Fishing is prohibited between posted boundaries about 100 yards upstream and downstream from the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery Ladder and extending into the river channel about 50 yards. Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited.

-  North Fork Clearwater River: from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam. Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited. Fishing from any watercraft or wading is prohibited between the posted lines about 150 yards upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River and the Ahsahka Hwy. 7 Bridge. When fishing from the Ahsahka Hwy. 7 Bridge, it is unlawful to take any fish downstream of the railroad bridge. Fishing from the railroad bridge is prohibited.

-  South Fork Clearwater River: from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red rivers.

   Catch-and-release fishing for steelhead opens in the Snake and Salmon rivers Aug. 1. Harvest season opens Sept. 1.

-  Salmon River from the Lake Creek Bridge to Long Tom Creek (a quarter mile upstream from the Middle Fork Salmon River).

-  Salmon River from Long Tom Creek (1/4 mile upstream from the Middle Fork Salmon River) to posted boundary 100 yards downstream of Sawtooth Hatchery.

-  Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the U.S. Hwy. 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road.

-  Snake River from the Washington state line at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.

   In addition, anglers can also harvest fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River from Lewiston to Hells Canyon Dam starting Sept. 1.

   The hatchery fall Chinook salmon run to Idaho is forecast to be large, and anglers may harvest adipose fin-clipped fall Chinook during the early portion of the steelhead fishery in the Snake River.

   From Sept. 1 until Oct. 31, anglers in the Snake River who have a valid salmon permit may harvest two fall Chinook salmon per day, only one of which may be an adult and they may possess six fall Chinook salmon only three of which may be adults. Adult fall Chinook salmon are included in the annual 40 fish limit for salmon anglers.

   Anglers should check the 2010 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules for additional details.

Sportsmen's Report sponsored by John and Lorraine Weiland