F&G Commission sets spring Chinook seasons for April 26

During its March meeting, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission set the spring Chinook seasons to open on April 26 in the Clearwater, Snake, and Salmon River drainages.

The set seasons and bag limits are as follows. (Note: These are partial spring Chinook seasons and rules; the full seasons and rules will be published prior to the season opener on the Chinook fishing webpage).

The following areas open to fishing for Chinook salmon on April 26, 2025:

Clearwater River Drainage

• Mainstem Clearwater River - From the Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge at Lewiston upstream to the South Fork Clearwater River (see Special Restrictions for closure areas).
• North Fork Clearwater River - From its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam (see Special Restrictions for closure areas).
• South Fork Clearwater River - From its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red rivers (see Special Restrictions).
• Middle Fork Clearwater River - From the South Fork Clearwater River upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers.

Salmon River Drainage

• Lower Salmon River - From the Rice Creek Bridge upstream to Shorts Creek (see Special Restrictions regarding fishing from watercraft).
• Little Salmon River - From the mouth upstream to the US Highway 95 Bridge near Pollock Road, approximately 1.2 miles upstream from the mouth of Rapid River (see Special Restrictions regarding fishing from watercraft).

Snake River Drainage

• Snake River - From Dug Bar Boat Ramp to Hells Canyon Dam.

Closing dates

Areas will be closed by Closure Order signed by the Director of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game or Aug. 10, 2025, whichever comes first.

Fishing days

Clearwater River Drainage

• Fishing for Chinook salmon will be open four (4) days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the mainstem Clearwater, North Fork Clearwater, Middle Fork Clearwater, and South Fork Clearwater rivers.

Lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers

• Fishing for Chinook salmon will be open four (4) days per week, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Snake River 

• Fishing for Chinook salmon will be open seven (7) days per week.

Daily and possession limits

Mainstem Clearwater River, North Fork Clearwater River, Middle Fork Clearwater River, and South Fork Clearwater River 

• Daily = Four (4) Chinook salmon, only one (1) may be an adult
• Possession = Twelve (12) Chinook salmon, only three (3) may be adults 

Lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers

• Daily = Four (4) Chinook salmon, only one (1) may be an adult
• Possession = Twelve (12) Chinook salmon, only three (3) may be adults 

Snake River

• Daily = Four (4) Chinook salmon, only two (2) may be adults
• Possession = Twelve (12) Chinook salmon, only six (6) may be adults

Don’t forget about E-tagging

Idaho Fish and Game’s new electronic salmon and steelhead permits are available at all vendors, or through the Go Outdoors Idaho mobile app. Remember, if you buy a paper tag, you're ineligible for e-tagging so ask for it when you buy from a license vendor.

E-tagging allows salmon or steelhead anglers to validate their permits electronically. Anglers can use the app while out of cell service, in low service areas, and while the device is on airplane mode. E-tagging also allows anglers to buy an electronic salmon or steelhead permit and start fishing immediately instead of waiting for a paper tag to arrive in the mail.

For a full, in-depth look at Idaho’s new e-tagging system, how it works and frequently asked questions (FAQs), visit Fish and Game’s E-tagging webpage or listen to Episode #36 of Idaho Fish and Game's official podcast, the Hook and Bulletin.