Chinook anglers had another successful week on the upper Salmon River. Angler effort was almost twice as high as the previous week, and the majority of anglers were observed near the Buckhorn Bridge area. Catch rates were the best of the season to this point, with Chinook anglers averaging 6 hours per Chinook salmon caught, and 9 hours per Chinook salmon harvested. To date, Chinook anglers have harvested 239 hatchery adult Chinook and 266 hatchery jack Chinook from the upper Salmon River.
River conditions on the upper Salmon River continue to improve. Mid-morning water temperatures on Sunday were in the upper 50s and the river’s visibility was clear. Currently, the Salmon River downstream of the Yankee Fork is running at 1,600 cfs which is 170% of average for today’s date.
As of July 21, the Sawtooth Hatchery had trapped 1,268 adipose clipped, hatchery Chinook salmon. Visit the Fish and Game website for up to date trapping information.
Additionally, Sawtooth Hatchery personnel recycled 560 adipose clipped, hatchery jack Chinook back into the fishery on Thursday and Friday of last week. - Brent Beller, Fisheries Technician II, Salmon Region