Idaho Fish and Game Director Sets Salmon Closures

Contact: Bill Horton, 208-334-3791 Salmon seasons on the South Fork Clearwater River and the Lochsa River have been closed for the year effective June 28, 2005. Nearly all the projected surplus of salmon available to sport anglers has been harvested. Director Steven Huffaker closed these streams to sport salmon fishing because counts at the hatchery traps are lagging behind the expected return. Salmon fishing will continue on the Little Salmon River near Riggins for another four-day fishing period from July 1 to July 4 and then will close for the year. Sport anglers are expected to harvest their share of salmon by the time the season is closed. Director Huffaker also signed the closure order for this fishery June 28. Tribal anglers in the Clearwater drainage and the Little Salmon River will continue their seasons because they have not harvested the share of salmon available for tribal fisheries. The fishery for summer Chinook salmon on the South Fork of the Salmon River is currently open. Fish and Game is assessing this fishery daily to determine if harvest targets or the allowed take of endangered salmon have been reached. Reaching those targets will bring fishing to a close. Through June 27, harvest has been less than 100 salmon and the fishery has been slow.