The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has voted to remove the size restriction on steelhead fisheries in the Clearwater River basin and Snake River downstream of Couse Creek, starting Friday.
The daily bag limit for steelhead in the Clearwater River, Middle Fork Clearwater downstream of Clear Creek, South Fork Clearwater, and Snake River downstream of Couse Creek will now be one adipose clipped fish of any size, including those longer than 28 inches.
The North Fork Clearwater River remains closed to steelhead fishing.
Fish and Game says its confident the agency can allow anglers to harvest all sizes of steelhead and still meet broodstock goals for programs dependent on Dworshak hatchery stock.
Near-record low returns of hatchery steelhead to the Clearwater River basin in 2019 prompted unprecedented changes to the steelhead fishing season and hatchery programs to ensure hatchery broodstock needs were met, including closing all fall steelhead fisheries in the Clearwater River basin and in the Snake River downstream of Couse Creek.
The steps taken proved successful, which prompted Fish and Game and the Nez Perce Tribe to reopen the spring steelhead fisheries on January 1st. (IDFG)
