Chinook Salmon Proposals for the 2026 Rapid River Run (lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers)
Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on how you would like the Rapid River Run spring Chinook Salmon fishery to be managed. Please watch the video above for a brief description of the proposal.
Comments will be accepted through February 22, 2026.
The 2026 Rapid River spring Chinook run is forecasted to provide a harvest share of 1,923 adults. Based on the updated Rapid River Fisheries Matrix (see table below), IDFG recommends the following fishery structure:
A 4-day (Thur-Sun) fishery with a daily limit of four (4) salmon with no more than one (1) being an adult.
Season opens Saturday, April 25, with fishing allowed on the Lower Salmon River from Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek, and on the Little Salmon River from the mouth upstream to the Highway 95 bridge at mile marker 190.
Efforts would be made to provide 55% of the harvest in the lower Salmon River and 45% in the Little Salmon River. Should the run come in significantly different than forecasted, our goal would be to follow the guidelines specified in the table below.
Chinook seasons and limits proposal table for the Rapid River Run based on harvest share *Highlighted row indicates IDFG recommendation to start the 2026 Rapid River Run Chinook Fishery
Adult Harvest Share
Season
Limit
River Sections and Expectations
<200
4 Days (Thur-Sun)
Jacks only
Upper Twin Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
150-800
2 Days (Sat-Sun)
1 adult
Upper Twin Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
600-2,100
4 Days (Thur-Sun)
1 adult
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
1,700-3,300
7 Days
1 adult
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
2,900-12,000
7 Days
2 adults
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
>10,000
7 Days
3 adults
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on how you would like the Rapid River Run spring Chinook Salmon fishery to be managed. Please watch the video above for a brief description of the proposal.
Comments will be accepted through February 22, 2026.
The 2026 Rapid River spring Chinook run is forecasted to provide a harvest share of 1,923 adults. Based on the updated Rapid River Fisheries Matrix (see table below), IDFG recommends the following fishery structure:
Efforts would be made to provide 55% of the harvest in the lower Salmon River and 45% in the Little Salmon River. Should the run come in significantly different than forecasted, our goal would be to follow the guidelines specified in the table below.
Chinook seasons and limits proposal table for the Rapid River Run based on harvest share
*Highlighted row indicates IDFG recommendation to start the 2026 Rapid River Run Chinook Fishery
<200
4 Days (Thur-Sun)
Jacks only
Upper Twin Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
150-800
2 Days (Sat-Sun)
1 adult
Upper Twin Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
600-2,100
4 Days (Thur-Sun)
1 adult
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
1,700-3,300
7 Days
1 adult
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
2,900-12,000
7 Days
2 adults
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
>10,000
7 Days
3 adults
Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River