Kamloops - The provincial government opened the Thompson River steelhead catch and release sport fishery for the remainder of 2011, effective Oct. 29.
The Thompson steelhead fishery has been closed for the past two years due to low returns. Data collected and analyzed last month by ministry staff show the fish population is now sufficiently stable to support a catch and release sport fishery.
The recreational fishery will be open until Dec. 31, 2011.
Ministry staff will continue to monitor productivity and abundance trends for the steelhead stocks, and are expected to reach a decision on whether the fishery will be open for the 2012-13 season in the fall of 2012.
– Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations