Outdoors, briefs

IDFG closes steelhead harvest in the Clearwater River basin due to low returns

Idaho Fish and Game is closing all steelhead harvest in the Clearwater River basin, effective at the end of fishing hours on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Anglers will still be able to fish for steelhead in the Clearwater River basin under catch-and-release regulations, but harvest of steelhead will be closed for the remainder of the 2026 season. 

Steelhead returns have been historically low this year, and counts of steelhead passing Bonneville Dam are the lowest ever recorded since the dam was constructed in 1938. Snake River stocks — including returns to the Clearwater — are also near historic lows and management actions are required to meet hatchery broodstock needs.

The steelhead harvest season has been open in the Clearwater River since early September and during the last month anglers have harvested the majority of the allowable share of hatchery fish returning to the Clearwater Basin. Closing the fishery now will allow anglers to fish for steelhead under catch-and-release regulations to avoid shutting the rivers down entirely. 

Bear River produces new Idaho catch-and-release state record brown trout

This summer’s hot streak of record fish continues to churn out some impressive catches. Congratulations to Benjamin Smith of Thatcher, Idaho, who made fishing history on Aug. 28 when he caught a new Idaho catch-and-release state record brown trout from the Bear River in Franklin County.

Smith’s catch barely beats the recent record set by Caroline Langdale by 0.5 inches, who caught a similarly huge brown trout on the South Fork Snake River only a few months prior in May 2026. The only thing more surprising than a brown trout over 30 inches is how quickly the previous record fell. Given how rare a fish of this class is for Idaho, most anglers should have expected the previous record to stand for quite a while.

While the Bear River in southeastern Idaho is best known for its native cutthroat trout, the area is also home to some quality options for both rainbow and brown trout fishing.

Idaho Fish and Game’s Catch-and-Release Record Program recognizes anglers who catch qualifying fish and release them alive. Records are based on the fish’s total length, measured from the tip of the snout to the end of the tail, allowing anglers to pursue a state record while giving their catch the opportunity to swim away.

IDFG seeks public comment on proposed rules for electronic tagging, CWD management

Idaho Fish and Game is accepting public comment on proposed rules that would explore expanding electronic tagging to certain game birds and allow the department to manage Chronic Wasting Disease zones by individual game management unit. The comment period runs through Oct. 28.

Department staff will review all public comments and present them, along with staff recommendations, to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. The commission is scheduled to vote on the proposed rules at its Nov. 17-18 meeting. If approved, the rules will advance to pending status.

To comment: idfg.idaho.gov/about/rulemaking/13-0110-2601

What will steelhead fishing look like on the Boise River this fall?

With the 2026 fall steelhead return shaping up to be one of the lowest returns on record, this fall’s outlook has not been promising. In mid-September, Fish and Game reduced statewide steelhead bag limits as a conservation measure to reduce impacts to natural-origin spawners and ensure hatchery broodstock objectives were met. If you’re a Treasure Valley angler, you might be wondering what all this bad news might mean for stocking steelhead in the Boise River this fall. 

The answer is that our staff will not know until after the second week of November at the earliest. Our Boise River steelhead come from surplus fish after broodstock objectives are met at Oxbow Hatchery. Fish are collected in a trap below Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River beginning the first week of November. During years when steelhead returns are lower, it may take up to two weeks to catch the 600 fish required for broodstock. Surplus fish are split equally between Idaho, Oregon, and the Nez Perce Tribe. 

As soon as stocking plans are finalized, Fish and Game will put out a news release. Anglers can be on the lookout around Nov. 20 for Boise River steelhead news to hit our website and social media channels. Typically, when IDFG stocks the Boise River once during those slower years, anglers can usually expect the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  

— Idaho Department of Fish and Game