Put and take Steelhead in Idaho's Clearwater River

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Don't be offended.......just thought it might be interesting to see the data.

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/i/fishidaho/

[Mike O]

From the Idaho Regs:
"Steelhead are rainbow trout longer than 20 inches in length in the Snake River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River drainage (excluding lakes and the Pahsimeroi and Lemhi rivers), and the Clearwater River drainage (excluding that portion above Dworshak Dam and lakes). Rainbow trout longer than 20 inches in length with the adipose fin clipped, as evidenced by a healed scar, are defined as steelhead in the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam upstream to Oxbow Dam and in the Boise River from its mouth upstream to Barber Dam, during steelhead seasons.

Only steelhead with a clipped adipose fin (see Page 40), as evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept. These are hatchery fish that had their adipose fin removed as juveniles. All naturally produced steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be released because they are listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (see Page 41). Some hatchery steelhead are not adipose fin clipped and must also be released.

....snip....

When excess hatchery steelhead become available at fish hatcheries or trap facilities, they may be released in the Snake River between Hells Canyon and Oxbow dams, and in the Boise River to provide additional fishing opportunity."

There are hatchery fish, and there are wild fish. Either way, they travel a helluva distance to get home, and a lot of them are beaten all to hell when they get there. Some even make more than one trip. Not all put and take.

My father in law has fished the "excess" fish of the Boise River, and a lot of people around Boise go crazy when they are dropped in. The people he knows who catch them say the quality of the meat is hit and miss, sometimes tasty, sometimes barely holding together.

DID YOU NOTICE THAT THEY CONSIDER FISH OVER 20" as Steelies, as opposed to the rediculuos 16" in CA?

[Ed Wahl]

That's a lot of reading Mike, and I'm still lost as to your point. Can you boil it down a bit?
Ed

[Mike O]

Point 1 - not all steelies in the Clearwater, or ID are put and take

Point 2 - these fish put the STEEL in steelhead

Point 3 - (more of a bitch, actually) 16 inch steelhead length in CA is kinda silly.

Point 4 - how do you spell ridiculous?

[shawn kempkes]

Point 1 - not all steelies in the Clearwater, or ID are put and take

Point 2 - these fish put the STEEL in steelhead

Point 3 - (more of a bitch, actually) 16 inch steelhead length in CA is kinda silly.

Point 4 - how do you spell ridiculous?

rThe life history of central valley and klamath steelhead is why they consider a sixteen incher an Adult. A truely wild Klamath adult is rarely over 5 pounds. Could youimagine how bad the fishing would be if everybody killed 5 halfpounders because the consider them rainbows.