Columbia and Snake Wild Steelhead in Fly Fisherman Magazine

This past year saw the lowest return of wild steelhead ever recorded at Bonneville Dam, the first major hydropower dam the majority of the Columbia River’s steelhead, and all of the Snake River’s fish, must cross on their their journey home to spawn. This historically low return follows a decade of declining numbers and five seasons of especially terrible run counts.

As would be expected, this grim threshold triggered angling restrictions, but it must also be a loud call for anglers to demand that State and Federal managers take comprehensive action to protect and rebuild these populations. These fish need habitat restoration and reconnection, cold water, reduced harvest impacts, and protection from predators. This historic moment should be met with an equally historic response to safeguard and rebuild the basin’s wild steelhead populations.

This spring, the WSC was invited to publish an essay on the status of the Columbia and Snake Basin’s wild steelhead in Fly Fisherman Magazine. Anglers should take time to read it, pass it along to fellow steelheaders, and let it inspire them to tell managers and elected leaders that these fish need solutions now.

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Huge thanks to the staff at Fly Fisherman Magazine for their support and the opportunity to share this important story with the wider angling public. Wild steelhead, and their home waters, need all the friends they can get. We appreciated the chance to share this piece with our fellow anglers, advocates, and conservationists.