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OCTOBER 29, 2009

October 29, 2009

Steelhead trout

   For many steelhead anglers, fall is the time to go fishing and the Clearwater Region is the place to do it. Fall fish are fresh from the ocean and are in peak condition. The Snake, Salmon, and the Clearwater rivers all provide excellent fishing.

   The diversity of fishing opportunities is also outstanding, ranging from urban fishing in downtown Lewiston to a backcountry float trip through the heart of the Salmon River Canyon. By mid October, steelhead are distributed throughout the region, and anglers can expect to find good fishing in the Clearwater River upstream to Kooskia, the Snake upstream to Hell's Canyon Dam, and throughout the Salmon River.

   So far this year, from June 1 through Oct. 9, more than 206,000 steelhead have crossed Lower Granite Dam, the last of eight federal dams they must cross on their way back to Idaho. Of those fish, 47,904 are wild fish that must be released unharmed if caught.

   Last year by this time, about 130,458 fish had crossed Lower Granite, 32,285 of them wild fish. The ten-year average for this date is about 100,000 steelhead.

   Fishery managers estimate the return of steelhead over Lower Granite Dam this fall will be considerably larger than the previous high return of about 250,000 fish in 2001. But most of this large return are more than 155,000 A-run hatchery fish destined for the Snake, Little Salmon and Salmon river - not the Clearwater.

   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