Due to the many damns (without ladders), on the Snake River in Hells Canyon, Steelhead and Salmon no longer make thier way into the Boise Valley and beyond.

There is now an annual tradition this time of year in which the fish and game transplants A run Steelhead, up to 10#'s in the Boise River through town. This year thier goal is 1000 planted.

I love to fish for Steelhead, but I feel a twinge of regret that we have resorted to this, because it has got to be a heck of a confusing time for those steelhead who were once swimming thier way up to thier spawning grounds and are now sidetracked into foreign waters.

I wonder, would fish ladders even matter at this stage of the game to reintroduce the species? I doubt that Idaho Power or The dept of Engineers has even considered it. I am sad that I never got to see the fish in my home waters.

I have a theory, these fish were involved in crime and have been relocated to Boise for thier protection.