Chinook Limits on Salmon River Reduced

Contact: Pete Hassemer: 208-334-3791 It's not a surprise to most salmon anglers that fewer Chinook salmon than anticipated have returned to Idaho this year. Fishery managers would like to keep the seasons open as long as possible but to do that will require some bag limit changes. The bag limit for Chinook salmon 24 inches or greater in total length, commonly referred to as adults, on the Lower Salmon River Park Hole section will be reduced to zero at the end of fishing hours on Friday, June 19. The Park Hole section boundary is the Time Zone Bridge to the mouth of Short's Creek above Riggins. A short section of the Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream about 200 yards to a posted sign is also closed for the harvest of adult Chinook salmon. However, anglers will still be able to keep six Chinook salmon less than 24 inches in total length, commonly referred to as jacks, per day in that stretch of river until further notice. The adult limits in the Lower Salmon River Hammer Creek section and in part of the Little Salmon River will also change. The bag limit will be six Chinook salmon (no more than one may be 24 inches or greater in total length) in the main stem of the Salmon River from the Time Zone Bridge downstream to Hammer Creek and in the Little Salmon River upstream of the posted boundary about 200 yards upstream from the mouth of the Little Salmon River. Only hatchery salmon with a clipped adipose fin (as evidenced by a healed scar), regardless of size, may be kept. If anglers harvest a salmon greater than 24 inches in these areas, they must cease fishing for salmon for the day in the Salmon River. These actions are being taken to extend the days available for Chinook fishing in the Riggins area. As of June 14, sport anglers had already harvested 40 percent of their share of Rapid River Hatchery stock. To keep salmon fishing active for a while longer, managers need to slow the harvest of adult Chinook salmon. These changes still allow anglers to access this year's abundant jack return.