Here's a summary of salmon seasons that are open:
Upper Salmon River: Open until further notice. Fishing hours are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time.
- City of Salmon to Pahsimeroi River: from the cable car crossing at the USGS flow gauging station, about 150 yards downstream of Island Park in Salmon, upstream to the posted boundary at the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River. The daily limit is six salmon, but only two Chinook, 24 or more inches in total length, may be kept.
- Pahsimeroi River to East Fork Salmon River: from a posted boundary at the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River, upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of the East Fork Salmon River. Only two Chinook, 24 or more inches in total length, may be kept. No fish under 24 inches may be kept.
- East Fork Salmon River to Sawtooth Hatchery: from a posted boundary at the mouth of the East Fork Salmon River, upstream to a posted boundary, about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley. Only two adult Chinook, 24 or more inches in total length, may be kept. No fish under 24 inches may be kept.
South Fork Salmon River: Fishing hours are from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time. Through the end of fishing Tuesday, July 7, the daily limit is six Chinook, only two may be 24 or more inches in total length.
After that, only Chinook under 24 inches may be kept, through the end of fishing Friday, July 10, when all salmon fishing closes on the South Fork.
- Upper: Open through July 10, from a posted boundary about one mile upstream from Fourmile Campground (about two miles downstream from Poverty Flat Campground) upstream about 17 river miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap.
- Lower: Closed July 5 to Chinook salmon fishing.
Boise River: Open 24 hours a day, July 2 through September 6 or until further notice, from its mouth to Barber Dam. The daily limit is two Chinook, adult or jack, and the possession limit is six fish.
In all these waters, Chinook salmon anglers may use only barbless hooks, except in the Boise River, no larger than five-eight inch. Snagging or attempting to snag salmon is unlawful.
- Only Chinook salmon greater than or equal to 24 inches total length need to be carded, except in the Boise River where both adults and jacks must be carded.
- Only Chinook salmon with a clipped adipose fin (as evidence by a healed scar) may be kept.
- Anglers must cease fishing for Chinook salmon - including catch and release - when they retain the daily, possession or season limits for the water in which they are fishing.
- Anglers may not harvest more than 40 Chinook salmon 24 inches or more in total length during the season.
Anglers must have in their possession a valid 2009 Idaho fishing license and salmon permit to fish for Chinook. They should consult 2009 Chinook salmon rules, which are 1 in season brochures and on the Fish and Game Web site at:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/salmon/.
