The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will slash steelhead bag limits on the Clearwater River this fall in an attempt to make sure hatcheries meet spawning goals in the face of a dismal run.

Anglers fishing below the Orofino Bridge will be allowed to keep only one jack steelhead per day. Jacks, or B-run steelhead that spend only one year in the ocean, are defined as those that are less than 28 inches long. Above Orofino, anglers will be allowed to keep one hatchery steelhead of any size.

The normal bag limit on the Clearwater River is three hatchery steelhead per day. The river opens to catch-and-keep fishing Tuesday.

Original article by Lewiston Tribune Online: http://lmtribune.com/blogs/scrawl_of_the_wild/article_4d18e922-306a-11e3-8cd7-001a4bcf6878.html

(Cover photo: idahoadventures.com)