Idaho Department of Fish and Game closes steelhead harvest in Clearwater Basin

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has announced the closure of all steelhead harvest in the Clearwater River basin, effective at the end of fishing hours on Wednesday, Oct. 21. While the harvest is closed for the remainder of the 2026 season, anglers may continue to fish for steelhead under catch-and-release regulations to prevent a total shutdown of the rivers.

The decision follows historically low steelhead returns. Counts of steelhead passing the Bonneville Dam have reached their lowest levels since the dam’s construction in 1938. Additionally, Snake River stocks, including those returning to the Clearwater, are near historic lows, necessitating management actions to ensure hatchery broodstock needs are met.