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A-run Steelhead Surpass Expectations by Eric Barker Lewiston Tribune, August 21, 2025

Thus far, a little less than 50% of the steelhead
counted passing Bonneville Dam appear to be wild.

About 100,000 steelhead have been counted at Bonneville Dam since July 1.

The tally is well ahead of the 67,500 fisheries managers predicted and bodes well for anglers.

So far, most of the fish counted there have been earlier-returning A-run steelhead that on average spend just a single year in the ocean. That the run is zooming past the preseason forecast is good news and likely signals the fish found good feeding conditions in the Pacific Ocean over the last 12 months.

Chris Donley, fish program manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at Spokane, said the A-run fish appear to be returning in a more traditional pattern this year where about 70% of them have been in salt water for a year and 30% for two years. Some recent years have seen the run tilt heavily toward older fish.

On average, about half the A-run steelhead that return to the Columbia River are bound for the Snake River and its tributaries.

It's unclear if B-run steelhead that generally spend two years in the ocean will return above forecast. They return a bit later than A-run fish and it remains too early to determine how they are doing. The preseason forecast calls for a return of about 11,900 B-run fish to the Columbia River. On average, about 70% of B-run steelhead in the Columbia River systems are bound for the Clearwater River, Middle Fork of the Salmon River and South Fork of the Salmon River.

They generally make up a much smaller portion of the overall steelhead run. Wild A-run and wild B-run steelhead are protected as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Thus far, a little less than 50% of the steelhead counted passing Bonneville Dam appear to be wild.

Fall salmon

A preseason forecast called for more than 328,000 fall chinook bound for tributaries upstream of Bonneville Dam to return to the Columbia River Basin this year. About 10% of those are expected to return to the Snake River, where fall chinook fishing opened Monday.

The Nez Perce Tribe is expecting about 8,000 coho to return to the Snake River and its tributaries this fall.

Related Pages:
Fisheries Managers Offer Grim Forecast by Eric Barker, Lewiston Tribune, 1/25/19
More Small Fish Led to Undercount of Idaho's Prized (B-run) Steelhead Last Year by K.C. Mehaffey, NW Fishletter, 9/4/18
Steelhead A-run Still Missing in Action by Eric Barker, Lewiston Tribune, 8/31/18
Down to a Trickle; Steelhead Numbers Continue Descent by Eric Barker, Lewiston Tribune, 8/31/18
States Close Columbia River To Steelhead Retention by Barry Espenson, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 8/30/18
Wild Steelhead Return Exceeded Expectations by Roger Phillips, Clearwater Tribune, 8/22/18