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Of chukar and steelhead in the Snake River country

In Idaho, Oregon, Snake River, Steelhead Files, Washington by Kyle Smith

By Michael Gibson Nothing clears the mind like a good chukar hike. So, when the boss called for a work/chukar retreat in lower Snake River Country, I got excited. Late-season chukar in some of the best, and most rugged, chukar country the planet has to offer. About now, you are probably wondering, what’s this got to do with fish?    We’ll get to that.  Our new North Idaho …

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WDFW grants permission to Cooke Aquaculture to raise triploid trout in Puget Sound

In Steelhead Files, Washington by Kyle Smith

By John McMillan, Wild Steelhead Science Director Conserving and restoring our wild steelhead runs requires a blend of habitat work, adjustments in management and angling policy, and advocacy from the angling community. As anyone who follows us here at Wild Steelheaders United knows, one of the issues we look at frequently is the impact of captive-hatched or reared fish on …

Throwback Thursday- Voluntary Beatdown Part I

In Alaska, Oregon, Steelhead Files, Washington by steelheaders

This post is part of our Throwback Thursday series and originally appeared on the now deceased blog “Voluntary Beatdown.”  Author Jason Koertge can be found on Instagram at @bacon_to_fry.  Thanks to Jason for letting WSU revive your epic work as one of the best fishing experience writers we’ve had the pleasure of reading. RIP VB.       take any …

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Throwback Thursday- A Friendly Reminder: Hatchery Steelhead Are Tasty

In Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Steelhead Files, Washington by steelheaders

With summer just around the corner, the Wild Steelheaders crew is feeling a bit nostalgic.  Winter rods are packed up and summer steelhead are a ways away, and we’ve been finding ourselves daydreaming of tiny flies, drylines, baseball games, cherry pie, and some of the internet’s most prolific fishy blog posts.  In the spirit of days gone by, we’re kicking …

TU’s Chris Wood Speaking at Idaho’s Energy, Salmon, Agriculture, and Community Conference

In Idaho, Oregon, Washington by steelheaders

  On Tuesday, April 23rd, the Andrus Center for Public Policy will host government representatives, fish advocates, grain growers, energy executives and other stakeholders at its annual environmental conference at Idaho’s Boise State University. The theme of the 2019 Andrus conference is Energy, Salmon, Agriculture and Community: Can We Come Together?   Trout Unlimited and Wild Steelheaders United salute the …

Washington State Suction Dredge Mining Reform Updates

In Live Action Alerts, Washington by Jenny Weis

Update from Dean Finnerty, Northwest Director on Outreach from Summer, 2018:   Thank you to dozens of supporters for your interest and willingness to engage and help protect fish life, water quality and make meaningful changes to rules and regulations for motorized suction dredge prospecting in Washington’s rivers and streams. If you want to be part of this team, the best way to do so is to …

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Can a Wild Coho Salmon Population Recover Following Closure of a Hatchery Program

In California, Idaho, Oregon, Science Friday, Washington by Nick Chambers

Today’s post is the conclusion of our two part guest series on the recovery of Coho in Oregon’s Salmon River. (Click here for last weeks post) Lately we have shared several studies on Pink and Coho salmon, which provide important lessons for salmonid recovery efforts across a range of species and watersheds. Perhaps the most important lesson is that decisions …

The Elwha Files: My oh my, what have we found

In Washington by Nick Chambers

By John McMillan Should we invest in dam removal? It’s a question that many communities, businesses and policy-makers are facing these days — partly because of aging infrastructure and financial liabilities, and partly because of legal obligations to protect water quality and recover declining salmon and steelhead populations. To that, I say: let the fish tell us what works. One …

The Last Steelhead

In Alaska, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington by Nick Chambers

  Longtime angling author, steelhead aficionado, TROUT Magazine contributor and musician Chris Santella has created a novel way to publicize the plight of wild steelhead.   Santella’s new rock opera, The Last Steelhead, looks at the factors contributing to the decline of wild steelhead runs and “the attitudes surrounding our behaviors and policies that seem to be standing in the …