2026 Middle Fork Clearwater River Spring Chinook Fishery Proposal
Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on how you would like the Middle Fork Clearwater River spring Chinook salmon fishery to be managed.
Comments will be accepted through February 22, 2026.
The 2026 aggregate Clearwater spring Chinook run is forecast to provide a total harvest share of 2,003 adults. The Middle Fork Clearwater River has consistently fallen short of meeting its harvest allocations over the past five salmon seasons. A combination of fishing conditions and conservative early-season fisheries structures have reduced anglers’ ability to fully achieve the sport share allocation in the Middle Fork Clearwater River. Recent increases in Chinook releases from Kooskia National Fish Hatchery are expected to further incentivize angler participation, providing the potential for additional opportunity for achieving harvest objectives in the Middle Fork Clearwater River fishery. As such, IDFG recommends the following fishery structure for the 2026 Middle Fork Clearwater River spring Chinook fishery:
A 4-day (Thur-Sun) fishery with a daily limit of four (4) salmon with no more than two (2) adults.
Season opens Saturday, April 25, with fishing allowed throughout the Middle Fork Clearwater River.
Should the run come in significantly different than forecasted, our goal would be to follow the guidelines specified in the table below.
Middle Fork Clearwater River Spring Chinook Season and Limits, Based on the Aggregate Clearwater Basin Harvest Share
*Highlighted row indicates IDFG recommendation to start the 2026 Chinook Fishery in the Middle Fork Clearwater River
Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on how you would like the Middle Fork Clearwater River spring Chinook salmon fishery to be managed.
Comments will be accepted through February 22, 2026.
The 2026 aggregate Clearwater spring Chinook run is forecast to provide a total harvest share of 2,003 adults. The Middle Fork Clearwater River has consistently fallen short of meeting its harvest allocations over the past five salmon seasons. A combination of fishing conditions and conservative early-season fisheries structures have reduced anglers’ ability to fully achieve the sport share allocation in the Middle Fork Clearwater River. Recent increases in Chinook releases from Kooskia National Fish Hatchery are expected to further incentivize angler participation, providing the potential for additional opportunity for achieving harvest objectives in the Middle Fork Clearwater River fishery. As such, IDFG recommends the following fishery structure for the 2026 Middle Fork Clearwater River spring Chinook fishery:
Should the run come in significantly different than forecasted, our goal would be to follow the guidelines specified in the table below.
Middle Fork Clearwater River Spring Chinook Season and Limits, Based on the Aggregate Clearwater Basin Harvest Share
*Highlighted row indicates IDFG recommendation to start the 2026 Chinook Fishery in the Middle Fork Clearwater River
Total Clearwater Adult Harvest Share
Days Per Week
Limit
River Sections and Expectations
<200
4 Days
(Thur-Sun)
Jacks only
No Closures
200 - 1000
4 Days
(Thur-Sun)
1 adult
No Closures
1000-4000
4 Days
(Thur-Sun)
2 adults
No Closures
>4000
7 Days
2 adults
No Closures