BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Fish and Game Commission members will meet by conference call Wednesday, December 18 to discuss reopening steelhead fishing season in the Clearwater River and lower Snake River, downstream of Couse Creek Boat Ramp.
The commission closed steelhead fishing entirely on the Clearwater River in September, as well as the Snake River below Couse Creek. The closure came amid concerns that returns of hatchery steelhead would not be sufficient to meet broodstock needs for the Clearwater hatcheries.
Fisheries managers were waiting to see if enough steelhead would return to replenish hatcheries before proposing to the commission to resume steelhead fishing for Clearwater and lower Snake rivers. After an additional month of trapping steelhead for the Clearwater River hatchery programs, Fisheries managers are confident there are enough steelhead for hatcheries and to provide steelhead fishing opportunities.
Daily bag limit in the Clearwater and Snake Rivers would be limited to one adipose-clipped steelhead per day, none over 28 inches in length.
Anyone interested in listening in on the Dec. 18 conference call at 8 a.m. Mountain Time can do so at at their local Fish and Game office or at Fish and Game Headquarters in Boise. Individuals with disabilities may request meeting accommodations by contacting the Director’s office at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game directly at 208-334-5159 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-2529 (TDD).
