Salmon Fishing to Close on Part of Lower Salmon River

Idaho Fish and Game will close Chinook salmon fishing in the Pine Bar, Hammer Creek and Vinegar Creek sections of the lower Salmon River at the end of fishing Wednesday, July 7. The sections to be closed include the lower Salmon River from the Highway 95 Time Zone Bridge downstream to the Rice Creek Bridge and from the mouth of Shorts Creek upstream to the upper boat ramp at Vinegar Creek. The area known as Park Hole from the Time Zone Bridge upstream to the mouth of Shorts Creek, and the Little Salmon River will remain open until further notice. Fish managers are closing parts of the lower Salmon to reduce fishery related incidental take of natural origin Chinook. Fish and Game conducts the salmon fishery under a federal permit that allows a number of incidental deaths of natural salmon encountered by anglers and listed under the Endangered Species Act. Once that number is reached, Chinook salmon fisheries covered under the permit are shut down, regardless of how many harvestable hatchery fish may still be in the river. Exceeding the incidental take would shut down salmon fishing for the season in the lower Salmon River, the Little Salmon and other parts of the Salmon River, including the South Fork and the upper Salmon rivers. For a map of open Chinook salmon seasons click here: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/rules/chinook_seasons/Salmon_Seas….