Calif. wild steelhead remain protected

Fly fishermen have been saying it for years.

Now a federal judge agrees hatchery-raised fish are no substitute for wild steelhead.

U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger in Fresno, Calif., upheld protections for wild steelhead trout in Golden State rivers, rejecting an argument by forestry groups saying hatchery-raised steelhead have made the population sufficiently robust.

Steelhead are considered either threatened or endangered in different parts of the state, with research showing hatchery-fish have benefits but can also be detrimental to wild populations.

Looking for a good place to fly fish for steelhead? Be sure to read our “where to go” piece on the Clearwater River in Idaho.