Steelhead fishing is once again allowed in the mainstem of the Clearwater and Snake rivers downstream of Couse Creek.

The daily bag limit is one adipose-clipped steelhead per day and no fish over 28 inches may be kept.

The Idaho Fish and Game commission in a Wednesday meeting opted to reopen the fishery on a limited basis after hearing from fishery managers.

The commission in September closed steelhead fishing on the Snake River below Couse Creek and the entire Clearwater River because of concerns that fall returns of hatchery steelhead would not meet broodstock needs. After months of trapping steelhead for the Clearwater hatchery programs, biologists were confident enough steelhead have returned to meet hatchery needs, according to Idaho Fish and Game.

The North Fork Clearwater River will be closed to steelhead fishing during the 2020 spring season that opens Jan. 1. Otherwise, all season dates printed in the 2019-21 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure remain in place.

— Ralph Bartholdt