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Idaho Fish and Game

Hells Canyon - Seasons and Limits

Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on what type of seasons and limits you would like to have for Hells Canyon’s spring Chinook Salmon fishery. 

Comments will be accepted through March 3.

The 2024 spring Chinook Salmon run to Hells Canyon is forecasted to provide a harvest share of about 592 adult fish. Using this forecast and the spring Chinook seasons and limits proposal table developed with angler input (see below), we would recommend to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission the following strategy to manage this fishery: 

  • Fishing 7 days a week 
  • A daily limit of four (4) salmon with no more than two (2) being adults
  • Season opens the fourth Saturday of April (April 27) 
  • Fishing allowed on the Snake River from Dug Bar Boat Ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam
  • A season limit of 10 adult fish 
  • Should the run come in significantly different than forecasted, our goal would be to follow the guidelines specified in the below.
Chinook seasons and limits proposal table for the Hells Canyon fishery based on harvest share
Adult Harvest ShareSeasonLimitOpen sections
<3007 days a week1 adultDug Bar Boat Ramp to Hells Canyon Dam
300-1,5007 days a week2 adultsDug Bar Boat Ramp to Hells Canyon Dam
>1,5007 days a week3 adultsDug Bar Boat Ramp to Hells Canyon Dam
Map of Hells Canyon Fishery