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Catch, Kill, Report Walleye in Idaho's Salmon and Steelhead Rivers by Idaho Fish & Game Coeur d'Alene Press, October 24, 2024

Walleye are spreading at an alarming rate upstream in the Snake and Salmon rivers and now occupy critical rearing and migratory areas of juvenile salmon and steelhead. For the past couple years, Idaho Fish and Game has asked -- and continues to ask -- anglers to harvest any walleye they catch in Idaho salmon and steelhead rivers and report the location and size of the fish to help Idaho Fish and Game better understand how this species is spreading.

Anyone who catches a walleye in rivers is asked to kill it, take a photo and contact Idaho Fish and Game biologist Marika Dobos at the Lewiston Regional Office by email at marika.dobos@idfg.idaho.gov, or call 208-750-4228.

In 2023, anglers reported catching 19 walleye in the Snake and Salmon rivers and so far in 2024, we have received over 60 verified reports of walleyes that were caught. The increase is likely due to increasing abundances of walleye and our efforts to reach out to anglers about walleye.

These walleye were caught in Snake River upstream to Hells Canyon Dam and in the Salmon River upstream to Riggins. The size of walleyes reported by anglers ranged from 13 to 30 inches in total length, but most were 16 to 18 inches. Long stretches of these rivers are difficult to access so fishing effort can be low, so we know there are many more walleye out there.

This increase in walleye abundance is concerning to fisheries manager because an additional non-native predator adds to the list of factors that influence salmon and steelhead survival. Recently, Idaho Fish and Game biologists joined with leaders from several other state, federal and tribal entities to discuss how to manage walleye where salmon and steelhead occur. There are many challenges when considering walleye management strategies, but the goal of this group is to determine how big of a problem these fish are going to be, especially with other predators in the system, and to reduce walleye predation on salmon and steelhead populations where possible.

One of the best tools we have as managers that could slow the expansion of walleye are anglers. Thousands of anglers fish the Snake and Salmon rivers every year, and if they killed every walleye they caught, it could slow their expansion. Most anglers encounter walleyes while fishing for smallmouth bass with worms, swimbaits and soft plastics. Steelhead anglers have also started reporting catching walleye while backtrolling plugs. These fish are opportunistic fish eaters, so chances are you might encounter them with anything resembling a small fish. Some hot spots are right off sandy beaches, around islands and in back eddies where water is slower. Most have been caught at or near the bottom at varying depths.

Idaho Fish and Game is extremely selective where it provides walleye fishing, which is currently limited to three locations: Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir, Onieda Reservoir and Oakley Reservoir. Idaho Fish and Game asks anglers to kill all walleye they catch outside of those waters and report any of those fish to a regional Fish and Game office.

Related Pages:
Catch, Kill, Report Walleye in Idaho's Salmon and Steelhead Rivers by Andy Walgamott, Northwest Sportsman, 3/29/24
Invasive Walleye Moving Higher into Snake River Basin, Threatening Juvenile Salmon, Steelhead, Lamprey by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/22/24
'Not Good for Salmon and Steelhead': Smolt-Eating Walleye Worry Fishery Managers by Eric Barker, Spokesman-Review, 8/30/23
Increasing Number of Predatory Walleye Logged at Lower Granite Dam by Nolan Smith, Big Country News, 6/29/15
WDFW Removes Bag Limits for Bass, Walleye, Catfish on Columbia River, Tributaries to Protect Salmon by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/4/16
New Rules Mean More Walleye, Fewer Sturgeon for Washington Anglers by Eric Barker, The Bend Bulletin, 3/13/13
It's Official: Bag Limits Off in WA for Columbia/Snake Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/3/13
Bass, Walleye Pose Substantial Threat To Salmonids by Andy Walgamott, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 3/6/9
Pikeminnow Season Catch Up; Data Confirms Snake Walleye Increase by Andy Walgamott, Northwest Sportsman, 10/13/22

Columbia River Area Show Slow Fishing with a Few Sturgeon and Walleye Appearing in Catches by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 2/13/17
Columbia River Reports on Skinny Side Due to Bad Weather Except for Good Walleye Action by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 12/15/16
Columbia River Area Producing Decent Steelhead and Walleye Fishing by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 12/2/16
Fair Catches for Coho, Walleye and Steelhead in Pockets of Columbia River System by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 11/17/16
Walleye in Columbia River Mainstem is Only Viable Fishing Choice by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 10/27/16
Autumn Fishing Choices Plenty Along Columbia River for Salmon, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 9/29/16
Columbia River Region Offers Fall Fishing for Chinook, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 10/18/12
OR Fish & Wildlife Fishing Reports Show Fall Options to Catch Walleye and Chinook by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 10/3/12
Fall Chinook, Summer Steelhead & Walleye Among the Best Columbia River Fishing Bets by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 8/29/12
Columbia River Full of Fishing Fun for Fall Chinook, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 8/1/12
Steelhead and Walleye Among the Top Picks in Columbia River Region by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 2/22/12
Walleye & Bass are Good Fishing Alternative Along with Some Steelhead by Mark Yuasa, Seattle Times, 4/26/11