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Idaho Fish and Game

Chinook Salmon Proposals for the 2025 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 spring Chinook Salmon fishery to be managed.

Comments will be accepted through March 1.

The 2025 spring Chinook Salmon run to Rapid River is forecasted to provide a harvest share of around 1,249 adults. Using this forecast and the spring Chinook seasons and limits proposal table developed with angler input (see table below), we would recommend to the commission the following strategy to manage this fishery: 

  • Fishing 4 days a week (Thur – Sun)
  • A daily limit of four (4) salmon with no more than one (1) being an adult
  • Season opens the fourth Saturday of April (April 26)
  • Fishing is allowed on the lower Salmon River from Rice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and on the Little Salmon River from the mouth upstream about 5 miles to where the highway 95 bridge crosses the Little Salmon River 1.2 mile south of Rapid River.
  • 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

OptionAdult Harvest ShareSeasonLimitOpen sections
 <1504 days a weekJacks onlyUpper Twin Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
 151-7502 days a week1 adultUpper Twin Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River 
 751-2,0004 days a week1 adultRice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
 2,001-3,0007 days a week1 adultRice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
 3,001-12,0007 days a week2 adultsRice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
 >12,0007 days a week3 adultsRice Creek Bridge to Shorts Creek and Little Salmon River
Map of where spring Chinook Salmon fisheries occur in the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.
Map of where spring Chinook Salmon fisheries are proposed to occur in the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.