Idaho Steelhead

Clearwater Steelhead (click image for detail)

Although this year's run is smaller than the last two years, we still saw about 150,000 fish at Lower Granite in the fall run, which is almost 40,000 more fish than the ten-year average. Steelhead are still distributed throughout the region now but winter conditions mean a lot of fish will slow their migration and head for deeper holes. The Snake, Salmon, and the Clearwater River below Clear Creek at Kooskia are all open to steelhead harvest now.

Fishing continues to be good right in downtown Lewiston, both for boat anglers and for folks fishing off the levees near the Memorial Bridge. A jig fished just off the bottom below a slip bobber has been the best method there. Anglers braving the cold and trolling lighted lures after dark have also been catching fish in town.

The Clearwater and North Fork Clearwater Rivers in the Orofino area have been very productive, with most fish being caught on slip bobbers and jigs. Some fish have also been caught in the upper Clearwater in the Kamiah and Kooskia area. Most of the fish in the Clearwater River are large "B" run fish averaging 10-15 lbs, with a few topping 20 lbs.

The Snake River continues to provide good fishing, especially the stretch near Heller Bar. This is a very popular area, and although winter weather has cut the numbers of anglers there, the fishing continues to be good at times.

Fishing on the Salmon River from its mouth upstream to the South Fork continues to be very good, although during cold snaps ice can hamper angler's access to the fish.

Steelhead anglers are reminded to know the difference between a salmon and a steelhead, as there will be a lot of fall chinook salmon and some Coho salmon in the Snake and lower Clearwater Rivers this fall. Chinook salmon are federally protected and must be released immediately. Coho salmon are also closed to harvest. Both species of salmon have black mouths, while steelhead have white mouths. Coho can be differentiated from chinook by the gum line. Coho have a white gum line, while the chinook's gum line is black. There will be some fall chinook around this year that have an adipose fin clip so it is critical that anglers can identify their catch. Remember, "If the mouth is black, put it back!"

All the other traditional steelhead regulations still apply, such as using only barbless hooks, immediately releasing non-adipose fin clipped steelhead, and recording all fish harvested on your steelhead permit. This year, anglers with a two-pole validation can use two rods while steelhead fishing. The bag, possession, and season limits are 3, 9, and 20 respectively.

For more up to date information on steelhead fishing please check the weekly steelhead report on the IDFG website or call the Lewiston Regional Office at 208-799-5010.

----------------------------------------

Idaho's steelhead are often classified into two groups, A-run and B-run, based on their size and ocean life history.

Steelhead are actually rainbow trout that migrate to the ocean and return to fresh water (anadromous fish). Idaho's A-run steelhead are usually found in the Snake and Salmon rivers. They return from the ocean earlier in the year (usually June through August) and they most often return after spending one year in the ocean. Because they return early in the year and because they usually come back after only one year in the ocean, they weigh 4 to 6 pounds and are generally 23 to 26 inches in length.

The B-run steelhead most often return to the Clearwater River, but some return to tributaries in the Salmon River. These fish usually spend two years in the ocean, and start their migration to Idaho later in the summer or fall of the year (usually late August or September). Because of the extra year and the extra summer of growing in the ocean, they return as much bigger fish.

Average B-run steelhead weigh between 10 and 13 pounds and are 31 to 34 inches long. Steelhead grow very large when they spend a third year in the ocean before they return to Idaho to spawn. These steelhead are usually larger than 37 inches and often weigh more than 20 pounds. The Idaho state record steelhead was 30 pounds and was caught in the Clearwater River in 1973.

Reprinted from Idaho Fish and Game