Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules

Chinook fishing seasons and rules information for Idaho

2019 Chinook Fishing Seasons and Rules

The Idaho Spring Chinook Fishing Seasons and Rules pamphlet is available as a full download, or shown by Chinook harvest zone below.

Mobile Friendly  – Small screen formatted, [PDF, 520 KB]
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Seasons change quickly, this page will reflect those changes as they change.

The table below shows stretches of rivers, current fishing status, bag and possession limits, and special restrictions.

Please Note: River segments with no Chinook fishing opportunity are not listed.

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Fall Chinook on the Snake River

Chinook Season Status

Select a river segment to see season status

Spring season

Clearwater River

Clearwater River
River Code River Zone Current Season Status Legal Harvest Season Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit Notes
3

Mainstem Clearwater River - Lower (Camas Prairie Bridge, Lewiston to Highway 12 Arrow Bridge)

Clearwater River
From: Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge at Lewiston
To: Highway 12 Arrow Bridge 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult 12 salmon, no more than 3 may be adults

Fishing allowed Saturday and Sunday only; until further notice

Special Note
3

Mainstem Clearwater River - Middle (Pink House Boat Ramp to Orofino Bridge)

Clearwater River
From: Pink House Boat Ramp
To: Orofino Bridge 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult 12 salmon, no more than 3 may be adults

Fishing allowed Saturday and Sunday only; until further notice

Special Note

Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited.
4

Mainstem Clearwater River - Upper (Orofino Bridge to Greer Bridge)

Clearwater River
From: Orofino Bridge
To: Greer Bridge 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult 12 salmon, no more than 3 may be adults

Fishing allowed Saturday and Sunday only; until further notice

Special Note

North Fork Clearwater River

North Fork Clearwater River
River Code River Zone Current Season Status Legal Harvest Season Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit Notes
5

North Fork Clearwater River

North Fork Clearwater River
From: Mouth
To: Dworshak Dam 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult 12 salmon, no more than 3 may be adults

Fishing allowed Saturday and Sunday only; until further notice

Special Note

Salmon fishing from any watercraft is prohibited.  The mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River is defined as a straight line between the posted signs located at the Clearwater Hatchery outlet culvert on the west side and at the tip of land below the Dworshak Hatchery on the east side. Fishing from the shoreline or wading along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery is prohibited. Fishing from any watercraft or wading is prohibited between the posted line approximately 150 yards upstream from the mouth of the North Fork Clearwater River to the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge. When fishing from the Ahsahka Highway 7 Bridge, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take any fish downstream of the railroad bridge. Fishing from the railroad bridge is prohibited.  

Middle Fork Clearwater River

Middle Fork Clearwater River
River Code River Zone Current Season Status Legal Harvest Season Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit Notes
6

Middle Fork Clearwater River

Middle Fork Clearwater River
From: South Fork Clearwater River
To: Confluence of Lochsa River and Selway River 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult 12 salmon, no more than 3 may be adults

Fishing allowed Saturday and Sunday only; until further notice

Special Note

South Fork Clearwater River

South Fork Clearwater River
River Code River Zone Current Season Status Legal Harvest Season Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit Notes
7

South Fork Clearwater River

South Fork Clearwater River
From: Highway 13 Bridge just downstream of Harpster Grade
To: Posted boundary at the top of the hole immediately upstream of Mount Idaho Grade Bridge HW14 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 salmon per day, only 1 may be an adult 12 salmon, no more than 3 may be adults

Fishing allowed Saturday and Sunday only; until further notice

Special Note

Only single-pointed barbless hooks are allowed while fishing for salmon in the South Fork Clearwater River.

Salmon River

Salmon River
River Code River Zone Current Season Status Legal Harvest Season Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit Notes
10

Lower Salmon River - Rice Creek

Salmon River
From: Rice Creek Bridge
To: Posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the Hammer Creek boat ramp 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults. 12, of which no more than 6 may be adults.

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note
11

Lower Salmon River - Hammer Creek

Salmon River
From: Posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the Hammer Creek boat ramp
To: US95 at Timezone Bridge 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults. 12, of which no more than 6 may be adults.

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note
11

Lower Salmon River - Park Hole

Salmon River
From: US95 Timezone Bridge
To: Shorts Creek 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults. 12, of which no more than 6 may be adults.

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note

Fishing from any watercraft is prohibited within 30 yards of the west shoreline of the Salmon River from the Riggins City Park boat ramp upstream to a posted boundary approximately 50 yards upstream of the mouth of the Little Salmon River.

Use River Location Code (RLC) 11 from Timezone Bridge to Little Salmon River, and RLC 12 from the Little Salmon River upstream to Shorts Creek.
12

Lower Salmon River - Shorts Bar

Salmon River
From: Shorts Creek
To: Lake Creek Bridge (first bridge across the main Salmon River upstream of Riggins) 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults. 12, of which no more than 6 may be adults.

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note
12

Lower Salmon River - Vinegar Creek

Salmon River
From: Lake Creek Bridge (first bridge across the main Salmon River upstream of Riggins)
To: Uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults. 12, of which no more than 6 may be adults.

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note

Little Salmon River

Little Salmon River
River Code River Zone Current Season Status Legal Harvest Season Dates Daily Limit Possession Limit Notes
20

Little Salmon River - Lower

Little Salmon River
From: Mouth
To: Posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the mouth of Rapid River 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults 12 salmon of which no more than 6 may be adults

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note

Fishing from any watercraft is prohibited in the Little Salmon River from the mouth upstream approximately 200 yards to a posted boundary.
20

Little Salmon River - Upper

Little Salmon River
From: Posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the mouth of Rapid River
To: U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road 		Scheduled to Open Adults, Jacks April 27, 2019 - 6:00 AM MDT 4 per day, only 2 may be adults 12 salmon of which no more than 6 may be adults

Fishing is only allowed on Thursday through Sunday, until further notice.

Special Note

Fishing from any watercraft is prohibited in the Little Salmon River from the mouth upstream approximately 200 yards to a posted boundary.
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Chinook Harvest Zone Season Information

Select a river segment to see season status