the film
forum
library
tutorial
contact
Ecology and salmon related articles

F&G Commission Reduces Bag Limits
for Clearwater River and Tributaries

by Idaho Fish & Game
EIN Presswire, October 7, 2021

Snake River Steelhead Triggers Early Warning Indicator, NOAA is trying to ignore that fact. Idaho Fish and Game Commission reduced the bag limit for steelhead in sections of the Clearwater River to one fish per day and three in possession in response to low steelhead returns, which means all Idaho rivers open to steelhead harvest will have a bag limit of one fish per day and three in possession.

Adjustments were made to these sections, which except for the North Fork of the Clearwater, will open for harvest of hatchery steelhead on Oct. 15:

Fish and Game biologists estimate that 35,000 to 40,000 steelhead will return to Lower Granite Dam, which is the last of four Snake River dams the fish cross before reaching Idaho. About 59,000 crossed last year, and the 10-year average is about 100,000 annually. "We anticipated this year's poor steelhead return and have been working with our Tribal and State Fishery Managers to implement conservative fisheries throughout the Columbia River," Fisheries Bureau Chief Lance Hebdon said.

Clearwater River hatchery steelhead returns are made up of steelhead that spend one to three years in the ocean with females being predominantly two and three ocean fish.

"We focus our evaluation of broodstock availability for hatchery returns on those females," Hebdon said. "Our current forecast of Clearwater River female steelhead returning to trapping locations is sufficient to meet broodstock and provide some steelhead for harvest."

Reducing the bag limit is a way to provide fishing opportunity while ensuring adequate hatchery returns.

"In past seasons with similar run sizes, implementing reduced daily bag and possession limits have resulted in lower angler effort and reduced harvest, which has enabled us to meet hatchery broodstock goals," Hebdon said.

In September, the Commission also reduced the bag limit for steelhead anglers to one fish per day and three in possession in the following river sections.

Related Pages:
Oregon Lowers Steelhead Bag Limits on Snake by Staff, Lewiston Tribune, 9/10/21
Amid Poor Runs, Idaho Officials Propose Limited Steelhead Harvest by Staff, Lewiston Tribune, 8/31/21
Spring Offers Big Steelhead Fishing Opportunities in Smaller Rivers by Idaho Fish & Game, EIN Presswire, 2/18/21
Steelhead Closure Extended In Eastern Oregon by Staff, KXI, 12/26/19
Steelhead Closure Extended on Columbia River by Staff, The Astorian, 12/23/19
Limited Steelhead Season Approved by Staff, Moscow-Pulmman Daily News, 12/19/19


Idaho Fish & Game
F&G Commission Reduces Bag Limits for Clearwater River and Tributaries
EIN Presswire, October 7, 2021

See what you can learn

learn more on topics covered in the film
see the video
read the script
learn the songs
discussion forum
salmon animation