FISHING -- Despite gloomy reports of a meager steelhead run up the Columbia and into the Snake River system, anglers are still catching fish -- and success rates in Idaho have been remarkably good.

Steelhead have been in the Grande Ronde River since early September, says Sean Visintainer of Silver Bow Fly Shop.

"Are there a lot of fish?" he asked, repeating the question. "Not tons, but those willing to work hard, fish smart and put some time in are finding a few."

He says one fish a day is a reasonable goal for a fly fisher this season with two or three fish being a "mega bonus." 

Scott Redman of Spokane had a mega-mega experience on Friday. Float-fishing with Silver Bow's newest guide, Kelby Braun, the pair hooked and landed FOUR steelhead on Redman's FIRST TRIP to catch steelies on a fly.

"This has been a tough year on the Grande Ronde," Redman reported after camping with the Spokane Fly Fishers for three days on the river.

Guided trips were getting no more than about two fish a day and the occasional skunk was possible, he said.

"The 'Fish Lady'  working for Fish and Wildlife estimated  500 hours per fish," Redman reported. "At my camp, I met a fisherman who had been there for five days and had only two fish on line and did not land either."

In Idaho, catch rates in mid-October were 11 hours per fish on the Snake below the Salmon River, 3 hours per fish on the Clearwater from the mouth upstream to the Orofino Bridge, 3 hours per fish on the North Fork Clearwater, and 20 hours per fish on the Salmon River from North Fork to the Lemhi River, according to Fish and Game Department surveys.

Steelheaders in Idaho consider the fishing very good when catch rates are lower than 10 hours per fish caught.

The fall limits on the Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon is three per day and nine in possession. The fall limit on the Clearwater is two fish per day and six in possession. Anglers may keep 20 steelhead for the fall season which ends Dec. 31.

See Idaho's steelhead fishing web page for the latest catch rates, seasons and rules, dam counts and instructional videos.