Finally, there’s some good news coming out of California about its unstable steelhead population.

According to information gathered from the Department of Fish and Game’s Steelhead Fishing Report-Restoration Cards in January 2007, anglers are catching (and releasing) more steelhead than in past years.

“This is great news for anglers and important information for steelhead recovery efforts,” DFG fisheries branch chief Neil Manji said in a statement. “The Steelhead Fishing Report-Restoration Card program has funded numerous projects to modify and remove barriers to fish passage, install screen diversions, stabilize erosion and provide a host of valuable information on steelhead, and we’re seeing the benefits of this outstanding program.”

The Steelhead Fishing Report-Restoration Card program (which costs anglers an additional $6.05 on top of the normal fishing license fee of $38.85) is the state’s only long-term funding source dedicated to steelhead.

Anglers feel out the report card after each steelhead trip and mail it to the DFG by Jan. 31 of the following year.

The DFG uses the data to analyze catch rates and population trends. The program has provided $1.2 million for more than 100 steelhead projects since 1993.

See our steelhead tips page for more information on catching winter steelies.

Photo courtesy CaliforniaAngler.com