What’s more fun than Chinook salmon in the Boise River? How about more Chinook in the river? Idaho Fish and Game staff will stock another 200 jacks and 100 adult Chinook from the Rapid River Hatchery on July 19.
This is the second stocking during July after crews put an initial 300 fish in the river earlier in the month so anglers can catch these big, strong, ocean-run fish. Chinook will be stocked at the same four release sites: Barber Park Boat Ramp, West Parkcenter Bridge, Americana Bridge and Glenwood Bridge.
Rapid River Hatchery recently met and exceeded the number of broodstock it needs to raise the next generation of Chinook, and then more Chinook arrived at the hatchery, which allowed the Fish and Game to transfer those fish to the Boise River.
The stocked fish include both "jack” Chinook that are less than 24 inches and adults weighing upward of 20 pounds.
In addition to a fishing license, all salmon anglers on the Boise river must have a paper salmon permit to legally/physically validate fish. Proof of purchase on a smart phone does not allow anglers to legally validate fish. Anglers should be sure to cut and remove a notch for each fish harvested and use river code 28. If an angler catches a Chinook and does not have a permit, the fish must be immediately released.
Anglers can find more information about the season and additional rules below.
Seasons and rules for the Boise River
Closing Date: The Boise River closes to Chinook salmon fishing on Aug. 30.
Fishing hours: Fishing for Chinook salmon is permitted 24 hours per day.
Limits: Bag and Possession limits for the Boise River are:
Bag (Daily): Two (2) Chinook salmon, regardless of size.
Possession: Six (6) Chinook salmon, regardless of size.
Season, statewide: No person may take more than twenty (20) adult Chinook salmon statewide during 2023 salmon seasons occurring prior to August 10, 2023.
Other rules:
All Chinook salmon (adults and jacks) harvested on the Boise River must be recorded on an angler’s salmon permit.
All Chinook salmon harvested on the Boise River prior to August 10, 2023 count towards the statewide adult season limit.
Anglers must cease fishing for all Chinook salmon (including jacks) once they have retained their daily, possession or season limit of adult Chinook salmon or their overall daily, possession, or season limit of Chinook salmon of any size, whichever comes first.
Snagging is illegal: Snagging means the taking or attempting to take a fish by use of a hook or lure in any manner or method other than enticing or attracting a fish to strike with, and become hooked in its mouth. A salmon that has been hooked anywhere other than its mouth or jaw must be released.
Methods of take:
Only hooks not greater than 5/8 inch between the point and shank may be used when fishing for salmon. Anglers may use barbed hooks while fishing for Chinook salmon on the Boise River.
It is unlawful to fish in any waters while having fish in possession that violate rules for those waters.
It is unlawful to have in the field or in transit any Chinook salmon from which the head or tail has been removed unless:
- The angler is ashore and done fishing for the day;
- The adult Chinook salmon is properly recorded on the anglers Chinook salmon permit; and
- The fish is processed or packaged with the skin naturally attached to the flesh including a portion with a healed, clipped adipose fin scar. The fish must be processed or packaged in a manner that the number of fish harvested can be readily determined. Processed Chinook salmon cannot be transported by boat.
All salmon that are hooked, landed and reduced to possession shall be counted in the limits of the person hooking the fish. Salmon caught in a legal manner must be either released or killed immediately after landing.