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Lowered Steelhead Bag Limits Are Now in Effect by Staff Moscow-Pullman Daily News, September 18, 2026

Poor returns on pace to set record

Reduced steelhead fishing bag limits in the Snake, Clearwater, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers went into effect this morning.

Idaho, Washington and Oregon all reduced bag limits for hatchery steelhead in response to poor returns that are on pace to set a new record. From July 1 through Wednesday, 52,620 steelhead had been counted passing Bonneville Dam -- the fewest since the dam was constructed in 1938.

Washington previously announced it would reduce its bag limits for steelhead but at that time did not know when the new rules would take effect.

The steelhead bag limit on the Snake River from its mouth to Lower Granite Dam and on the Tucannon River has been changed to one hatchery fish per day. The Snake River limit from Lower Granite Dam to the Washington-Oregon state line is two hatchery steelhead per day.

In Idaho, the statewide bag limit for steelhead is two hatchery fish per day. On the Clearwater River and its tributaries, the two-fish bag limit may include only one steelhead that is 28 inches in length or longer.

In both Idaho and Washington, anglers can no longer keep fall chinook that have not been marked by having their adipose fins removed.

Related Pages:
A-run Steelhead Trending Below Average Return by Eric Barker, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 8/6/26