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Spring steelhead season an early opportunity to
catch big fish |
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March 4, 2017 |
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Story and photo by Roger Phillips
IDFG Public Information Specialist
Big fish, lots of bank access, beautiful
weather. Well, two of three ain’t bad, and you
might get all three during spring steelhead
season. Steelhead make their final push to the
headwaters of Idaho’s famous steelhead streams
during spring, which concentrates them in the
upper tributaries of the Clearwater and Salmon
rivers.
Anglers key in on these areas for the
opportunity to catch these large, ocean-going
fish that are traveling upwards of 900 miles to
hatcheries or spawning grounds. Those looking to
cure cabin fever can get an early start on their
fishing season, as well as a chance to catch big
fish.
Now about that weather. As most folks know,
spring in Idaho is unpredictable, which can
apply to other seasons as well. But spring is
unique, especially this year, because we’re
looking at a large snowpack in much of Idaho’s
mountains. Warm, sunny weather, or rainy
weather, can turn rivers into muddy torrents and
make steelhead fishing difficult, so watching
river flows is critical to the success of spring
steelhead fishing.
Anglers can see a gauge of river flows thanks to
the U.S. Geological Survey, which has gauging
stations throughout Idaho.
By watching the weather and the streamflows,
anglers can track in real time what’s happening
with the rivers.
Steelhead typically like “Goldilocks”
conditions, not too high and not too low and
with a little color in the water (think emerald
green), but not muddy. Warming water (even just
a few degrees) often offers better fishing, and
when a river recedes after a big pulse of run
off also tends to fish better. Good steelhead
anglers, or lucky ones, can catch fish in almost
any conditions, but using those guidelines will
help you improve you chances of catching
steelhead.
Unlike salmon fishing where fishing is often
curtailed to ensure enough fish reach
hatcheries, steelhead fishing is typically wide
open. Idaho easily refills its hatcheries with
enough adult steelhead to replenish the egg
supply needed to produce the next generation of
fish. That means anglers have a long steelhead
fishing season and generous bag limits. To see
rules for each river system, go here.
With fish congregated in smaller areas, anglers
are too, which means there can be crowding. In
some cases, that gives steelhead fishing a
social atmosphere, but there can also be intense
competition for prime fishing spots. See the
video below to learn about etiquette for fishing
in tight spacing.
But don’t feel like you have to fish shoulder to
shoulder with others. The upper Salmon River
between Salmon and Stanley, for example, has
more than a hundred miles of mostly
road-accessible river where you can find places
to get away from the crowds.
Here’s more information about steelhead fishing
this spring:
Salmon-Challis National Forest Officials
reopened the road on March 1. Forest officials
reported that although avalanche and debris
slide conditions improved with cooling
temperatures and melting snow, the public is
advised to avoid traveling on the road unless
they are prepared for unpredictable road and
weather conditions.
“As in previous years, the Salmon River Road
will continue to have avalanche and debris
slides occurring throughout the spring run-off
season,” officials said.
Boat ramps are also blocked by high snowbanks,
and there's limited parking along the road due
to snow on the shoulders.
For updated information about the road call
(208) 756-5100 or visit
https://www.fs.usda.gov/scnf.
Hatchery managers want young steelhead released
into the South Fork of the Clearwater River to
be from parents taken from that river, so it is
asking anglers to catch local spawners to fill
nearby hatcheries.
Here’s how it works: Anglers catch a fish, and
then place the live fish into a perforated
section of PVC pipe provided by Fish and Game.
Anglers return the pipe to the river and tether
it, and then F&G crews retrieve the fish and put
it into a tanker truck that will deliver the
steelhead to the hatcheries.
Fish and Game will distribute the PVC pipes at
popular fishing holes along the South Fork in
March, the most popular times for fishing the
river. Steelhead donated by anglers are not
counted against the angler’s bag limit.
For more information about the program, call
(208) 799-5010. |
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