Chinook Season Opens on Upper Salmon River

Many anglers have been waiting a long time for the Chinook salmon season that opens June 19. It has been three decades since the last Chinook season on the upper Salmon River. The lower boundary of the area open to Chinook fishing is at the Highway 75 Bridge over the mainstem of the Salmon River at milepost 213.5, which is about nine miles west of Clayton. The river is open upstream to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Sawtooth Hatchery weir. Anglers will need a fishing license and a salmon permit, which can be purchased at any Fish and Game vendor. The regulations for the Chinook salmon season are available at all vendors and on-line at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. Fishing hours for Chinook are from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Successful anglers can only keep hatchery Chinook salmon with a clipped adipose fin. Unless there is a healed scar from the clipped fin, the salmon is considered wild and must be released immediately. It is legal to catch both adult and jack Chinook salmon on the upper Salmon River. Adult Chinook are at least 24 inches long, while jack Chinook are less than 24 inches long. Anglers can keep two jacks each day and six in possession. It is not necessary to record jacks on salmon permits. After landing an adult Chinook salmon, anglers should validate their permit. Limits on adult Chinook salmon are two each day, six in possession, and 40 for the season. Anglers are required to stop fishing for salmon once they reach the adult salmon bag, possession, or season limit. There will be three check stations, with two on Highway 75 and one on Highway 21. It is mandatory for anglers to stop at check stations, even if they haven't caught any fish. For more information please call 208-756-2271.