CLEARWATER TRIBUNE HOME

October 28, 2010

Steelhead harvest season open on the Clearwater

By Ed Mitchell, IDFG

   Steelhead harvest fishing season opened Oct. 15 on the Clearwater River upstream of the Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 12 near Lewiston.

   The steelhead harvest season already is open on the Clearwater River downstream of the Memorial Bridge, and on the Salmon, the Little Salmon and the lower Snake rivers.

   The steelhead limit on the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon is three per day and nine in possession. The limit on the Clearwater is two fish per day and six in possession. Anglers may keep 20 steelhead for the season. Once limits are reached, the angler must stop fishing, even catch-and-release.

Anglers must have a valid Idaho fishing license and steelhead permit.

   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.

   In the boundary waters on the Snake River between Idaho and Oregon or Washington, an angler with a valid 2010 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.

   See the 2008-2010 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure for more information on steelhead fishing or check the Fish and Game Web site http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

   In addition to steelhead, until Oct. 31, anglers in the Snake River and the lower Clearwater River down stream of the Memorial Bridge near Lewiston, 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 Fall Chinook Seasons and Rules pamphlet for details.

Sportsmen's Report sponsored by John and Lorraine Weiland