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Idaho Fish and Game

Summer seasons set for South Fork Salmon and Upper Salmon rivers

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On Tuesday, May 17, Fish and Game commission set the summer chinook season for the upper Salmon River and South Fork of the Salmon River to open June 18, 2016. 

Chinook bound for those rivers are entering the Columbia River and aren’t expected to reach Idaho until June. It’s too early to get a good indicator of how many will be returning, according to F&G’s anadromous fish manager Pete Hassemer. 

Hassemer said Wednesday that in a typical year only 15 to 20 percent of the fish have been counted at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River by mid May. However, he’s confident there will be enough summer-run chinook for a sport harvest, but it will likely be smaller than last year’s. 

Anglers interested in the South Fork of the Salmon River season will want to stay alert because the season may not last long after the fish arrive. 

“When fish are there and conditions are good people catch a lot of fish,” he said.

People can call Fish and Game hotline at (855) 287-2702 for updates on Chinook fishing seasons. 

Areas to open for summer Chinook fishing include: 

Upper Salmon River: from the Copper Mine boat ramp approximately 2.5 miles upstream from the mouth of the Middle Fork Salmon River upstream to the posted boundary approximately 100 yards downstream of the weir and trap at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley. 

South Fork Salmon River: from the bridge on Forest Service Road 48 (Lick Creek/ East Fork South Fork Road) where it crosses the mainstem South Fork Salmon River just upstream of the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, upstream approximately 32 river miles to a posted boundary approximately 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap.

Areas will be closed by closure order signed by the Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Fishing hours for Chinook salmon in the Upper Mainstem Salmon River is permitted from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain Daylight time.

Fishing for Chinook salmon in the Mainstem South Fork Salmon River is permitted from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain Daylight time. 

Bag and Possession limits for the South Fork Salmon River and upper Salmon River are:

Daily: Four Chinook salmon, only two of which may be adult Chinook Salmon. 

Possession: 12 Chinook salmon, only six of which may be adult Chinook Salmon.  

Season, statewide: No person may take more than 20 adult Chinook salmon statewide during 2016 salmon seasons occurring prior to Sept. 1.