Clearwater steelhead seasons to close

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has voted to close all steelhead seasons on the Clearwater River.

The action came after determining the number of adult hatchery fish is less than the number needed for brood stock and there is no surplus to provide a fishery.

The closure takes effect at midnight, September 29 and includes the Clearwater River upstream to the confluence of the Middle Fork and South Fork, along with the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork tributaries. A section of the Snake River, downstream from the Cuse Creek boat ramp, to the Idaho Washington state line will also be closed to protect Clearwater-bound steelhead.

Although the steelhead fishery will be closed in the Clearwater River basin, the commission said thee would be no changes to the ongoing fall Chinook season, which is scheduled to close on October 13.

The commission also approved a Coho salmon fishery in the Clearwater River basin. That fishery is open effective immediately, and will run concurrent with the fall Chinook fishery.

Fishery managers said that because those fisheries close October 13, or earlier if catch limits are attained, any incidental impact on Clearwater hatchery steelhead is expected to be minimal.

Biologists estimate about 1,158 hatchery steelhead, embedded with tags, passed Bonneville Dam this year. On average, that would be about 50% of the expected return.

“Based on average run timing, we estimate that this will result in approximately 2,300 fish crossing Bonneville Dam by the end of the season,” said anadromous fishery manager Lance Hebdon.

“The result for Idaho anglers is that only 1,700 hatchery steelhead destined for the Clearwater River will make it to Lower Granite Dam by the end of the season.”

In order to meet brood stock needs, Hebdon said 100% of the steelhead destined for the North Fork Clearwater and a high percentage of the fish destined for the South Fork would have to be collected. He said that would leave no surplus fish for harvest.

“Early in the fall, many of the steelhead in the Clearwater river basin are actually fish destined for the Salmon and Grande Ronde rivers, which have pulled into the Clearwater until water temperatures in the Snake River start to cool off,” Hebdon said. “The main component of the Clearwater River steelhead run starts arriving in the middle of October.”