Biggest isn’t always best: Steelhead Derby back on

TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

Eric Barker

Lewiston Tribune, Idaho (TNS)

Just like the steelhead harvest season, the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce Steelhead Derby is on again – though with modified rules.

The annual derby held the week of Thanksgiving initially was called off in August when the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife canceled steelhead harvest because of low numbers of fish returning to the Snake River and its tributaries.

Harvest seasons were restored Sunday following a late push by the fish. But bag limits were reduced to two hatchery steelhead per day on the Snake and Salmon rivers, and the states adopted special rules designed to protect the low number of the big B-run steelhead returning to Clearwater River hatcheries. Anglers on the Clearwater River and its tributaries and on the Snake River north of Couse Creek are required to turn loose any steelhead that measure longer than 28 inches

This year’s derby rules reflect those changes. The Clearwater River and its north, south and middle forks will be off limits to derby anglers. Instead, all fishing will be confined to the Snake River between Lower Granite Dam and Couse Creek – an area where big fish can’t be harvested.

Because of that, the derby will focus on its mystery fish competition, in which daily cash prizes totaling $450 are awarded to anglers who catch fish that most closely match randomly selected weights, rather than simply the biggest fish caught. Prizes also will be awarded for the smallest fish, and there will be prizes awarded to anglers who failed to harvest any fish.

At the conclusion of the derby, an additional $1,500 in cash prizes will be distributed. A news release from the chamber did not specify how prize winners will be selected.

The derby is sponsored by the chamber in partnership with Rogers Dodge of Lewiston. The chamber will donate a portion of the proceeds to a fish conservation project that will be matched with a donation from the auto dealership.

“We recognize the need to be conservative with the harvest and hope by removing ‘bigger is better’ and making the derby about family, fun and giving back will allow for an enjoyable experience for all participants and ensure the future of our fish for years to come,” said Chamber President Kristin Kemak.

Blake Harrington, communications and events director for the chamber, said the rules were changed based on advice received from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

“We want to do some thing positive with it,” she said.

The derby will kick off Nov. 17 with opening ceremonies at the dealership, and fishing will occur Nov. 18-25.

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Barker may be contacted at ebarker@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2273. Follow him on Twitter @ezebarker.

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)2017 the Lewiston Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho)

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AP-WF-10-19-17 1221GMT