A message from Fisheries Manager, Joe DuPont
Run Update and Harvest Share
Our information suggests that over 95% of the spring Chinook Salmon destined for fisheries in the Clearwater Region have passed over Bonneville Dam. As such, we don’t expect numbers in the table below to change very much from here on out. We are still evaluating survival of these fish as they migrate from Bonneville Dam to Lower Granite Dam. Evidence suggests that survival for Chinook destined for the Clearwater River basin have been about average whereas survival for the Rapid River run has been lower than average. If this trend continues, the harvest share for the Clearwater run will probably end up at around 2,000 adult fish and the Rapid River run will be less than 900 fish.
I’ve had a few anglers asking me how the harvest shares we are projecting this year compare to the past. So, I put together the two graphs below to give you some perspective. For the Clearwater run, we have seen four years lower than this since 2000. For the Rapid River run, you have to go back to 1999 to see a lower harvest share than we are projecting this year.
Clearwater River Fishery
We estimated that 41 adult Chinook Salmon were harvest in the Clearwater River fishery last week. All of these fish were caught in the main Clearwater River with most being harvested in the Lewiston area. Fishing conditions were difficult much of the time in this last 4-day interval as flows in the Clearwater peaked on Saturday. Flows are supposed to drop steadily this week, and by the time the fishery reopens on Thursday, conditions should be good. As such, expect harvest to pick up considerably during this next 4-day fishing interval.
Rapid River Fishery
We still have not observed any harvest in the Rapid River fishery, which is not surprising due to the high and dirty flows we experienced in the Salmon River last week. Flows are supposed to hold steady at around 60,000 cfs until Friday and then start dropping. At that point, I expect better numbers of fish to start moving upstream into the fishery. Our Commission will be meeting on June 6 to discuss Idaho’s salmon fisheries. With the low harvest share we are expecting for this fishery, they will evaluate whether rule changes need to occur to insure we fairly distribute harvest and prolong the fishery. I’ll keep you posted on any rules changes that are made.
Hells Canyon Fishery
Harvest did pick up a little in the Hells Canyon fishery (10 adults harvested), but catch rates were still relatively slow at 67 hrs/fish. My guess is the next two weeks will be the best time to fish Hells Canyon. We plan to start trapping for brood and ceremonial and subsistence needs on June 11, which will draw some of the fish out of the fishery.
I expect to see much better fishing this week with flows dropping and clearing and more fish moving into those areas open to harvest.
Good luck fishing