Chinook salmon fishing to open April 23

By Roger Phillips, Idaho Fish and Game public information specialist Idaho Fish and Game commissioners approved the spring chinook seasons and rules for the Clearwater, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers during its regular meeting Thursday, March 10 in Boise. Fishing will open April 23 and remain open until further notice. The season typically ends when the sport anglers' share of the run is caught, which varies by river. Chinook have just started entering the Columbia River and less than 50 have crossed Bonneville Dam, which is the first of eight dams the fish cross in the Columbia/Snake river systems. The forecast for this year is 66,100 hatchery fish to cross Lower Granite Dam about 25 miles downstream from Lewiston, which is the last dam the fish cross before reaching Idaho. Last year, 95,300 hatchery chinook crossed Lower Granite. Areas open to spring chinook fishing will be the same as last year, which includes: Clearwater River drainage - Mainstem Clearwater River from Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge upstream to the South Fork of the Clearwater River. - North Fork of the Clearwater from the mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam excluding the perimeter of the Dworshak National Hatchery at Ahsahka. - South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red rivers. - Middle Fork Clearwater River from the South Fork upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers. - Lochsa River from its mouth upstream to the Twin Bridges immediately upstream from the confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed creeks. Salmon River drainage - Lower Salmon River from Rice Creek Bridge upstream to the uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek. - Little Salmon River from the mouth upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 bridge near Smokey Boulder Road. Snake River - Snake River from Dug Bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. Bag limits For the Clearwater River, North Fork and Middle Forks of the Clearwater rivers and Lochsa River are four chinook per day of which only one may be an adult (24 inches or longer) and 12 in possession, of which only three may be adults. Limits for the South Fork of the Clearwater River, Snake River, Lower Salmon River and Little Salmon River are four chinook of which only two may be adults and 12 in possession, of which only six may be adults. Season limit is 20 adult chinook salmon statewide during 2016 for salmon seasons occurring prior to Sept. 1, 2016. Only hatchery chinook with a clipped adipose fin may be kept by anglers, and all others must be released unharmed. Chinook anglers are also restricted to barbless hooks. Other rules and special restrictions for the chinook salmon fishery will be available in the 2016 spring chinook salmon brochure at Fish and Game offices, license vendors and online prior to season opener. The Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to decide on summer chinook salmon fisheries on the South Fork Salmon and upper Salmon River at its May meeting. Fish return to those areas later than to the Clearwater River and Rapid River hatcheries, allowing fishery managers more time to develop season proposals.