Weak Steelhead Run Protected

Washington has followed Idaho’s lead by enacting emergency fishing regulations to help protect a weak run of steelhead bound for the Clearwater River.

Last Thursday, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission issued this emergency restriction:

No trout longer than 30 inches long can be kept from the Washington-Oregon state line downstream to the Red Wolf crossing bridge near Clarkston.

The rule, which is valid through Dec. 31, is designed to protect the larger summer-run steelhead returning to Dworshak Hatchery.

Based on numbers of fish passing Bonneville Dam, the Dworshak return may be less than 12,000 fish, which may not meet egg quotas needed for the hatchery to produce a full crop of steelhead for release next year.

As usual, anglers still must release all wild steelhead. But under the emergency order, even hatchery fish - identified by a missing adipose or ventral fins - must be released if they are longer than 30 inches.

The 30-inch rule allows to anglers to keep the more plentiful but smaller strain of steelhead bound for spawning in the Salmon River.

Caribou restoration

Efforts to restore woodland caribou in the Selkirk regions of Idaho and Washington will be presented by biologists at an open house Saturday in Newport.

Washington Fish and Wildlife Department employees will be on hand to discuss the natural history of the endangered species as well as the state’s plan to re-introduce the caribou in this state next spring. The open house is set for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Stratton Elementary School, 1201 W. 5th St.

Slide show planned

Australian Greg Child, one of the world’s premier alpinists, will present a slide show of his adventures on Mount Everest Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Mountain Gear, 2002 N. Division. Child, a photojournalist who has a stunning resume of first ascents and challenging climbs around the world, won the American Alpine Club’s Literary Award in 1987. Child currently lives in Seattle.

On the lookout

Washington and Idaho wildlife officers are trying to find poachers who have shot at least a dozen moose in the Mount Spokane area the last few weeks.

Madonna Luers, Washington Fish and Wildlife Department spokeswoman, said two cow moose have been killed near Mount Spokane the last two or three weeks.

One of the animals may have been killed last weekend. One animal was found on Thompson Creek and the other near Jackson Road.

Luers said the department as well as the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council are offering rewards to people with information leading to the conviction of moose poachers. Those with tips may remain anonymous.

Hunters cited

Washington Wildlife Department agents cited numerous hunters last weekend for killing two-point buck deer in areas where only three-pointers are legal.

The agents also are working on other cases involving violations of the antler restriction regulations.