Fall Coho and Chinook Salmon Harvest Seasons End Soon

The historic, first time ever season for Coho salmon in Idaho will end for the year Sunday, November 16 in the Clearwater River basin. The Coho season opened October 17 on the Mainstem and Middle Fork Clearwater River from the mouth upstream to Clear Creek, and on the North Fork Clearwater River downstream from Dworshak Dam. As of November 2, anglers had kept 62 and released 7 Coho, for a total of 69 fish. This new fishery resulted from the work of the Nez Perce Tribe which initiated a Coho salmon hatchery program to restore Coho to the Clearwater River basin. That program has resulted in growing returns, including this year's run. As of Saturday, November 1, over 17,400 Coho salmon had passed Lower Granite Dam. November 17 marks the end of the fall Chinook harvest season. The season ended October 31 in the Clearwater River, a short stretch of the lower Salmon River and in the Snake River, except the reach from Cliff Mountain Rapids to Hells Canyon Dam, which closes November 17. As of November 2, anglers had caught and kept 183 marked adults and 66 jack fall Chinook and caught and released 561 unmarked fish in the lower Clearwater River. They caught and kept 604 adults and 382 jacks and caught and released 3,396 unmarked fish in the Snake River.