Stewardship

“The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.”
― John Paul II

For many anglers, the thrill of catching a steelhead, or even the fight reeling one in, is just part of why we choose to fish. Having spent our lives on the banks of the Salmon River, the peace and rejuvenation that this resource provides to each angler is something that we’ve grown to cherish. The Salmon River is the longest free-flowing, undammed river in the Lower 48 states. Having a piece of the more than 400 crystal clear miles of habitat at our fingertips is not something to take for granted.

Steelhead are the jewel of Pacific Northwest fishing. They are anadromous in nature, which means they are born in mountain rivers and streams, then migrate to the ocean, where they grow to adults. Then they make the long journey back from the ocean upriver to spawn; they end up in the same location where they were born. This may sound similar to salmon; however, steelhead are different in that they can spawn multiple times in their life cycles, traveling hundreds of miles each time. They can grow as large as 40 inches and weigh up to 20 pounds!

If we want our children (and our children’s children) to enjoy both the sport and art of steelhead fishing, as well relishing in the beauty of the Salmon River corridor, we must all do our part to protect it. Our team of fisherman at Idaho Steelhead Guides is in a unique position to not only act in protecting the river and its fish, but also to educate our clients on sustainable practices and responsible fish handling techniques. Each wild fish deserves to have the best chance at survival - while we can enjoy the fight and the catch, it is our duty to allow each fish to continue to thrive, spawn, or perhaps bite another angler’s fly.

Idaho Steelhead Guides holds our company, guides, and clients to the highest standards of stewardship and ecologically responsible angling. It is our hope that we can share our love for the river, its wildlife, and the fishing experience with you. With enough care and protection, the following generations can carry on our appreciation and conservancy into the future.

Professional Memberships:

• IOGA:
  • The Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association is a non-profit business trade association. IOGA members continue to be standard-setters for the industry. They are licensed and bonded and must meet high standards of safety and professionalism. They are committed to serving their clients while also conserving Idaho's land, water, and wildlife.
• LNT:
  • The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a national organization that protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. Mission: To protect the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly.
• Idaho Rivers United:
  • The mission of Idaho Rivers United is to protect and restore the rivers of Idaho. Our focus is the ecological integrity of our rivers, but the lens we look through is citizen involvement.
• Keepemwet:
  • Keepemwet® is about releasing fish in the best condition possible. It’s a motto for minimizing air exposure, eliminating contact with dry surfaces, and reducing handling. It’s a movement to empower anglers to take small, simple steps to responsibly enjoy and share fishing experiences. Our goal is to minimize the impact of catch & release angling on fisheries by uniting conscientious anglers, organizations and companies to promote science based practices for handling fish that are released.