LEWISTON, ID – Idaho Fish and Game will begin its annual localized broodstock collection program on the South Fork Clearwater River on Feb. 2, using volunteer anglers to help collect returning adult hatchery steelhead.

The program, which began in 2010, relies on anglers to place steelhead they catch into in-river holding tubes. Fish meeting hatchery criteria are later collected by Fish and Game staff and transported to Dworshak National Fish Hatchery and Clearwater Fish Hatchery for spawning. The resulting juveniles are released back into the South Fork Clearwater River.

According to Fish and Game, the goal is to develop a steelhead population more locally adapted to the South Fork by spawning fish that have successfully completed the migration cycle .

Collection will take place seven days a week during daylight hours through April, or until broodstock goals are met. Anglers wishing to participate must sign a volunteer form before handling fish. Both adipose-clipped and unclipped steelhead may be placed in tubes, but only hatchery-origin fish will be retained, with all presumed wild fish released .