- 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.
Chinook Season: South Fork Closes to Adult Salmon
idfg-mcoleman
At the end of fishing Tuesday, July 7, the South Fork Salmon River will close to harvest of adult Chinook salmon, 24 or more inches in total length.
Creel surveys show that nontribal anglers will have harvested all of the state's share of adult Chinook returning to the South Fork by the end of the day Tuesday. Anglers may still catch and keep Chinook jacks, less than 24 inches, until the end of fishing Friday, July 10, when the South Fork Salmon River closes to all Chinook salmon fishing.
The daily limit is six Chinook. Until Tuesday evening, only two may be 24 or more inches in total length. After Tuesday, only salmon under 24 inches may be taken.
On the Upper Salmon River, last week, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission changed the daily and possession limits for Chinook salmon from the city of Salmon upstream to the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River, allowing anglers to keep Chinook salmon less than 24 inches total length.
The daily bag limit on the reach from Salmon upstream to the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River is six fish, no more than two of which may be 24 or more inches in total length. The possession limit is 18 fish, with no more than six, 24 or more inches long.
Keeping or having jacks in possession while fishing in the Salmon River upstream of the Pahsimeroi River continues to be prohibited. Upstream of the Pahsimeroi, the daily limit is two and the possession limit six Chinook, 24 or more inches long.
Anglers are reminded that they may not harvest sockeye salmon. Most sockeye salmon, like the Chinook jacks, are less than 24 inches long. Unlike Chinook, sockeye typically lack distinct black spots on the back and tail and also lack a black gum line.
Any sockeye caught must be released unharmed. Anglers who are unsure of their ability to distinguish a Chinook less than 24 inches from a sockeye, are encouraged to release any salmon they catch that's less than 24 inches.
In addition, the commissioners also opened a Chinook salmon fishing season on the Boise River downstream of Barber Dam to run 24 hours a day from July 2 until September 6 or further notice. The daily limit is two salmon - regardless of size - and the possession limit is six salmon.
In the Boise River, adult and jack Chinook must be recorded on the angler's permit.
Chinook are present in the Boise River only when stocked by Idaho Fish and Game. The large return of Chinook jacks to some of Idaho's hatcheries this year allows Fish and Game to move some of those fish to the Boise River.
Steelhead and Chinook salmon historically migrated up the Boise River to spawn.
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.