Chinook Salmon Fishing

In Idaho, anglers eagerly wait and plan their vacations around the Chinook salmon’s annual return.

Chinook Salmon are one of the more popular sport fish across the western states due to their large size, hard fighting ability, and excellent table fare.

Chinook returning to Idaho are classified into three groups or “runs” – spring, summer and fall Chinook – based on when they begin their migration upstream to spawn. Most fish range from 12 to 20 pounds, but fish over 30 pounds are caught each year. Due to the different times Chinook salmon enter Idaho, fishing opportunities can often be found from May through October.

Seasons and rules are set annually because the number of Chinook returning to Idaho can vary greatly from year to year. Many factors influence seasons, such as collecting enough fish for spawning and providing different communities with the opportunity to harvest fish. Use the Seasons and Rules page to find maps of each fishing zone.

News

Spring/summer Chinook seasons end, but fall Chinook starts Aug. 18

Tuesday, August 7, 2018 - 2:00 PM MDT

All remaining Chinook salmon fisheries on the Snake, Clearwater, South Fork Clearwater, Middle Fork Clearwater and Upper Salmon rivers will close at the end of fishing hours on Aug. 12

Chinook Salmon Fishing Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
F&G Commission approves Aug. 18 for fall Chinook fishing opener

Friday, July 27, 2018 - 3:31 PM MDT

Fall Chinook fishing on the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon rivers will open Aug. 18 and Idaho Fish and Game fisheries managers expect 18,126 adult fish to return to Idaho, which compares with 24,780 last year. Of the fish returning, managers are forecasting 12,013 hatchery Chinook and 6,113 natural origin.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
July 10: Chinook salmon fishing update for the Clearwater River, Rapid River, and Hells Canyon

Tuesday, July 10, 2018 - 3:08 PM MDT

This will be my last Chinook update for these fisheries as they either have closed down or anglers have lost interest due to poor catch rates. I know this season was a bit of a disappointment as we would all like to see much higher returns, but by using rules recommended by anglers, we were able to appreciably extend the length of these fisheries. I think this is a

Chinook Salmon Fishing Clearwater Region Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Chinook Salmon in the Boise River

Thursday, July 5, 2018 - 7:05 PM MDT

Idaho Fish and Game released 100 hatchery spring Chinook salmon into the Boise River on Thursday, July 5. The salmon were released at five locations – Glenwood Bridge, Americana, Boise State, Park Center and Barber Park. At some of the locations anglers were already waiting for the fish to hit the water.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Fishing Southwest Region Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Upper Salmon River between Idaho 93 and Idaho 75 to close to Chinook fishing July 7

Tuesday, July 3, 2018 - 1:31 PM MDT

Based on information available as of July 3, Fish and Game fisheries managers estimate the sport fishery harvest for Chinook on a portion of the Upper Salmon River between the Highway 93 bridge located 0.3 miles south near Challis upstream to the posted boundary below Sawtooth hatchery will meet the harvest share by the end of fishing hours on July 7, so Chinook angling will close.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Salmon Region Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
South Fork Salmon River to close for Chinook fishing July 5

Tuesday, July 3, 2018 - 9:58 AM MDT

Based on harvest information, Fish and Game fishery managers estimate that sport fishery harvest for Chinook Salmon on the South Fork Salmon River will be met by the end of fishing hours on July 5.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Southwest Region Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Section of Clearwater River will reopen for Chinook fishing on July 7

Friday, June 29, 2018 - 1:27 PM MDT

The section of Clearwater River from the Cherrylane Bridge to Orofino Bridge will reopen to Chinook fishing on July 7. The section will reopen on a Saturday, which is midway through the regular four-days a week season.

Chinook Salmon Fishing Clearwater Region