Clearwater River Basin - Harvest distribution goals
Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on what type of harvest distribution goals you would like to see for the Clearwater River basin’s spring Chinook Salmon fishery.
Comments will be accepted through March 3.
The number of spring Chinook salmon smolts released into the Clearwater River basin have increased from about 4 million, prior to 2015, to now more than 6 million. The additional releases have occurred mostly downstream of Orofino because these releases tend to result in better adult returns and both the State and Nez Perce Tribe can better access them in their fisheries. Because of these new releases, it has become apparent that changes in how harvest is distributed throughout the Clearwater basin need to occur to balance harvest with where people fish and ensure we can obtain our harvest share. The table below shows how we are proposing to change distribution of spring Chinook salmon harvest throughout the Clearwater River basin in comparison to fishing effort that has occurred in recent years.
Percent of harvest distributed to the different river sections
River Section
Percent of fishing effort that occurs in each river section
Past
Proposed
1. Lower Clearwater - downstream of Cherrylane Bridge
40%
30%
35%
2. Middle Clearwater - Cherrylane to Orofino Bridge
18%
20%
19%
3. North Fork Clearwater
19%
15%
20%
4. Upper Clearwater - Orofino Bridge to S.F. Clearwater
Idaho Fish and Game would like your input on what type of harvest distribution goals you would like to see for the Clearwater River basin’s spring Chinook Salmon fishery.
Comments will be accepted through March 3.
The number of spring Chinook salmon smolts released into the Clearwater River basin have increased from about 4 million, prior to 2015, to now more than 6 million. The additional releases have occurred mostly downstream of Orofino because these releases tend to result in better adult returns and both the State and Nez Perce Tribe can better access them in their fisheries. Because of these new releases, it has become apparent that changes in how harvest is distributed throughout the Clearwater basin need to occur to balance harvest with where people fish and ensure we can obtain our harvest share. The table below shows how we are proposing to change distribution of spring Chinook salmon harvest throughout the Clearwater River basin in comparison to fishing effort that has occurred in recent years.