Rules change. This weekend you can keep the steelhead you catch

Angers can keep hatchery steelhead that are less than 28 inches long in the lower Snake River starting Saturday.

The new rule is in effect from the mouth of the Snake River to the Washington and Idaho state line, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The limit is two hatchery steelhead a day. Steelhead 28 inches or longer must be released.

Lagging steelhead returns during the past summer led fisheries managers to close some areas and reduce daily limits for steelhead smaller than 28 inches to protect both small and large steelhead.

However, the smaller, or A-run steelhead, have returned in larger numbers for both hatchery and wild fish to allow some steelhead to be kept by anglers on more of the Snake River.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Rules change. This weekend you can keep the steelhead you catch."