Steelhead Run Still Ahead Of Last Year

There’s no immediate need to drop plans for a fall steelhead fishing season on the Clearwater River, but hopes for this year’s run are dimming daily.

The “B run,” made up of larger, later steelhead bound for the Clearwater, has failed to match expectations in the month since counting started at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River.

Fish and Game biologist Kent Ball originally predicted that 15,000 Clearwater “B’s” would be available for Idaho and Washington anglers this fall.

Since, his prediction has fallen to 7,500 fish.

“It’ll be better than last year, but …,” Ball said.

Biologists had predicted the stronger showing for the Clearwater based on the number of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery steelhead that returned last spring after just one year in the Pacific Ocean.

Those fish normally make up a small proportion of the run, but this year’s count was larger than it has been in years.

Adding to the optimism was a record count of chinook salmon jacks this year that also signaled better days ahead.

Ralph Roseberg of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said last spring’s numbers were inflated.

The bright spot is that this year’s run still is ahead of last year in the Snake. As a result, there’s no talk of the Fish and Game commission paring back fall regulations for the Clearwater. xxxx