Fishers from the Nez Perce Tribe may use drift nets in the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers at Lewiston starting this weekend as they pursue fall chinook, coho and steelhead.
Joe DuPont, regional fisheries manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, sent an email message to anglers who subscribe to his salmon and steelhead newsletter Friday informing them of the tribe’s intention and asking nontribal anglers to give tribal anglers space.
“A coordinated effort by all parties is necessary to ensure both sport and Tribal fishers have an opportunity to catch the salmon and steelhead that occur there,” he wrote. “Last year, these two fisheries seemed to operate well together, and I am confident this can occur again this year. To ensure this happens, it would be best if people refrained from fishing or anchoring up around the confluence area at night. Please help spread the word.”
The tribe has reserved treaty rights to harvest fish in the Snake River and its tributaries. Each year, the number of salmon and steelhead that return in excess of hatchery spawning goals is split evenly between tribal and nontribal anglers. Fisheries are managed so that each group has access to 50% of the surplus, known as a harvest share.
The tribe co-manages the fishery and operates three fish hatcheries in the Clearwater River basin.
