October 22, 2009
By Ed Mitchell
Steelhead harvest fishing season opened Thursday, Oct. 15, on the Clearwater River upstream of the Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 12 near Lewiston.
The steelhead season has been open downstream of the bridge since Aug. 1, and the river upstream of the bridge has been open only to catch-and-release fishing since July 1. The Clearwater River sections open to steelhead harvest include the mainstem upstream of Memorial Bridge to Clear Creek; the South Fork from its mouth to the confluence of American and Red rivers; the North Fork from its mouth to Dworshak Dam.
The fall seasons run through Dec. 31.
The steelhead season also is under way on the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.
The steelhead limit on the Clearwater is two fish per day, six in possession and 20 for the season.
Elsewhere, the limit is five steelhead per day, of which no more than three may be 32 or more inches in total length. The possession limit is 15, no more than nine may be 32 or more inches long. The statewide limits in the fall and spring seasons is 40 steelhead in each, but no more than 20 of those may be caught in the Clearwater River drainage in each season.
Once daily, possession and season limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch-and-release.
Anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit. They must stop fishing when the possession limit is reached - even catch-and-release. 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 unharmed immediately.
Open waters for steelhead are:
· Clearwater River mainstem and Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth 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. Fishing from motorized watercraft is prohibited from the Clearwater River Bridge at Orofino upstream to the mouth of Clear Creek from September 15 through April 30.
· 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 line about 150 yards upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River and the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge, and when fishing from that 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.
· Salmon River from its mouth to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream of the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir, near the town of Stanley.
· Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the U.S. Highway 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 the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit may fish where the river forms the boundary between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, but may not fish from the shoreline, including wading, and may not fish in sloughs or tributaries on the Oregon or Washington side. An angler may have only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses the angler holds.
Consult 2008-2009 fishing rules brochure for exceptions and special restrictions. For more information on steelhead fishing in Idaho, check the Fish and Game Website http://fish andgame.idaho.gov.
Sportsmen's Report sponsored by John and Lorraine Weiland
Riverside Sport Shop/Sinclair
11320 U.S. Highway 12, Orofino--208-476-5418