Snake River

South Fork Rainbow Trout Suppression Study Update

To achieve suppression goals IDFG used boat electrofishing to capture and remove Rainbow Trout

( RBT ) from the South Fork Snake River (SFSR) in 2021 through 2023. Boat electrofishing occurred while RBT were spawning in the mainstem SFSR from early-April through May. In 2024, unlike previous years, the program relied entirely on angler harvest. The change in suppression methodology occurred in response to comments by the outfitting and guiding community regarding the use of electrofishing to remove RBT. Idaho Department of Fish and Game was responsive to comments and agreed to withhold electrofishing efforts if our suppression targets could be met through harvest alone.

In the autumn of 2023, IDFG estimated 701 RBT/mi. ( 176) in the Conant monitoring reach and a total of 13,319 RBT from Palisades Dam downstream to Dry Canyon. To meet our goal of annually removing 30% of RBT present in the upper portion of the SFSR (i.e., where RBT are most prevalent) our suppression target was 3,996 RBT for 2024. In 2024, anglers have submitted 4,007 RBT to the program, surpassing our suppression target by 11 fish. The general public has harvested 816 RBT and guides and outfitters have harvested 3,191 RBT (South Fork Lodge: 2,967; The Lodge at Palisades Creek: 224.