Chinook Season to Close Statewide August 10

Contact: Pete Hassemer (208) 334-3791 For Immediate Release The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will close the Chinook salmon season across Idaho on the evening of Wednesday August 10, 2011 at the end of fishing hours. The closure affects waters of the Mainstem Clearwater River, the Middle Fork Clearwater River, the South Fork Clearwater River, the Lochsa River, the Snake River downstream from Hells Canyon Dam, the Little Salmon River and the Upper Salmon River. "This has been one of the longest Chinook seasons we've had in recent years," said Pete Hassemer, Idaho Fish and Game's salmon and steelhead manager. "By this time of year, most of the Chinook have passed through the areas open to fishing on their way to hatcheries and spawning grounds and the success rate is slowing down." In recent surveys anglers told Fish and Game they wanted longer seasons and the ability to fish in more places. "We feel we accomplished that this year," said Hassemer. "At one point we had Chinook salmon fisheries open in the Clearwater drainage, parts of the Snake River, lower and upper Salmon Rivers, the South Fork Salmon River and Little Salmon River, all at the same time." Some tribal fisheries will remain open and those fisheries are managed by the tribes.