Rookie,

No, unclipped steelhead are not legal unless the regulation specifies that it is legal. The Salmon and Queets Rivers have hatchery steelhead released by the Quinault Tribe that are mostly unclipped. However, you may retain an unclipped steelhead if its dorsal fin measures less than 2 1/8" high. On the Queets River, that only applies downstream of Hartzell boat launch. If you fish there, read and follow the Park Service regs. The Ranger is persnickety and cites people regularly.

Most hatchery steelhead released from state and federal programs are fin clipped. This isn't something you need to lose sleep over.

Most hatchery coho salmon are ad clipped also, but on some rivers you can keep hatchery and wild, and on some rivers you can keep only the marked ones. Read the regulations for the water you fish!

Sincerely,

Salmo g.