Steelhead fishing closed on Lower Snake

LOWER GRANITE DAM - The state Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) closed the lower section of Snake River to steelhead fishing.

The closure extends from the mouth of the river at Burbank upstream to Lower Granite Dam.

Above the dam to the Idaho-Oregon state line, fishermen may now only keep one steelhead per day, WDFW officials said.

No native steelhead – ones with unclipped adipose fins – may be kept, officials said, noting only barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for steelhead.

The change in the steelhead season is effective through March 31.

Officials said the change in fishery rules is due to a predicted low steelhead run this year.

Biologists are forecasting a total steelhead run of 89,200, noting steelhead passage downstream at Bonneville Dam is among the lowest recorded by the agency.

While the overall return is expected to be low, officials said there are enough steelhead expected to allow limited fishing and retention on the Upper Snake River.