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Good Steelhead Season Predicted for this Fall Associated Press Idaho Mountain Express - August 14, 2002

BOISE -- Barring poor river conditions, steelhead anglers could have another season of good fishing after Sept. 1.

The Idaho Fish and Game Department is predicting about 170,700 steelhead will enter Idaho fishing waters this fall. But the prediction is based on average conditions if drought and high water temperature continue, the fish may stay in the Columbia River until waters cool.

A high percentage of fish are lost before coming to Idaho when that happens, according to Fish and Game officials.

Salmon anglers also will get the chance to dip lines again next year if early predictions by Idaho Fish and Game officials prove accurate.

The department expects about 45,000 adult spring and summer Chinook to clear Lower Granite Dam, with 75 percent of them hatchery-raised. That is a decline from this year's run, with nearly 100,000 fish counted at the dam since spring.

In 2001, salmon fishermen took about 43,000 fish. The final harvest this year is expected to be about 19,200. Next year will probably have a lower fishing limit and fewer locations open for anglers, according to department officials.