Snake River Steelhead (trout) changes? Thoughts?

[gaddy]

Picked up the new fishing reg's the other day and noticed some changes. Last year it was June 16 - March 31. Up to 3 Hatchery Steelhead may be retained.

This year they broke it up into different seasons. June 16 - July 31, up to 3 hatchery Steelhead may be retained.

Aug 1 - March 31, Max size 30" for hatchery Steelhead. Up to 1 hatchery Steel head may be retained.

I can understand the reduced retention maybe, if needed, but a 30" max size ? I don't understand. Not one of the 6 I was able to keep last season was under 30''
Your thoughts ?
Yes #s were low last year but the biggest complaint I kept hearing was the lack of hatchery fish in the system. Fish guy said 80% of the run was supposed to be hatchery but every one I talked to had caught and released more wild fish than keepers. My hatchery fish came to about 40% of total caught.

[7mmfan]

Trying to protect a projected low return of B-Run fish.

[gaddy]

I can understand that with the retention limit, but the max 30" doesn't make sense to me. What difference will it make to the spawning sequence of Hatchery Steelhead or the future runs if the fish kept is 29" or 31" ?

[Snakeriver10]

I live five miles from the snake river and don't even look at it anymore.  The tiny amount of fish who do make it up to the hatcheries will only end up to have the juvenile steelhead killed by the hatcheries....I don't see the snake or the Clearwater ever being a steelhead or salmon fishery for a long long long time!

[huntnnw]

The Idaho "B" run is being protected .. As the "B" run fish are always over 30" and very few "A" run exceed 30" . The prediction for this fall return of "B" run to ID was 70 harvestable fish ! Worst return in my lifetime.  The tribs such as the ronde and etc do not have the 30" rule.

[BigGoonTuna]

I can understand that with the retention limit, but the max 30" doesn't make sense to me. What difference will it make to the spawning sequence of Hatchery Steelhead or the future runs if the fish kept is 29" or 31" ?

probably an effort to ensure enough hatchery broodstock is collected to keep the run going.

[gaddy]

Thanks for the clarification, and education. Makes sense now.  I hadn't realized the B run was in that much trouble. 70 fist to Idaho ? WOW.