For the first time in decades, most of the places anglers can fish for Chinook salmon will be open on the Fourth of July weekend.
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission Wednesday morning approved a proposed Chinook salmon harvest season in the Boise River, which begins Thursday, July 1, and runs through September 30.
The daily limit is two Chinook, regardless of size, and the possession limit is six Chinook regardless of size. Please see Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules for the Boise River, available at Fish and Game offices and license vendors.
Chinook salmon anglers may use only barbless hooks, except on the Boise River, and hooks no larger than five-eight inch. Snagging or attempting to snag salmon is unlawful.
Also opening on the holiday weekend, albeit briefly, is the Stanley reach of the upper Salmon River. It is open July 3 through July 5 from the posted boundary about 20 yards upstream of Valley Creek in Stanley, upstream to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery.
The daily limit is three Chinook salmon, only one of which may be an adult; the possession limit is nine Chinook, only three of which may be adults.
Other waters open in Idaho to Chinook salmon harvest are:
Upper Salmon River, Ellis Area
- From the cable car crossing at the USGS flow gauging station about 150 yards downstream of Island Park in Salmon, upstream to the posted boundary about 20 yards above the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River in Ellis.
South Fork Salmon River:
- Lower - from the U.S. Forest Service bridge on Forest Service Road 48 - East Fork South Fork Road-Lick Creek Road - that crosses just upstream from the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River - upstream about 16 miles to a posted boundary about one mile upstream from Fourmile Campground. (About two miles downstream from Poverty Flat Campground)
- Upper - from a posted boundary about one mile from Fourmile Campground, upstream about 17 miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap.
Lower Salmon River:
- Pine Bar - From the Rice Creek Bridge upstream to the posted boundary about 200 yards downstream of the Hammer Creek boat ramp. This is a new section added this year.
- Hammer Creek - From a posted boundary about 200 yards downstream from the Hammer Creek boat ramp upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Time Zone Bridge.
- Park Hole - From the Time Zone Bridge upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of Short's Creek, about 1.4 miles upstream of the mouth of the Little Salmon River.
- Vinegar Creek - From posted boundary at the mouth of Shorts' Creek upstream to the uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek. The daily limit is five salmon, only three of which may be adults; the possession limit is 15, only nine may be adults.
Little Salmon:
- Lower - From the mouth to a posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the mouth of the Rapid River.
- Upper - from the posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the Rapid River upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road.
On the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers, the daily limit is five Chinook salmon, only three of which may be adults, and the possession limit is 15 Chinook only nine of which may be adults. Adult Chinook salmon are 24 inches or more long, jacks are less than 24 inches in length.
Clearwater River, mainstem:
- Upper - From the Orofino Bridge upstream to the South Fork Clearwater River.
- South Fork Clearwater: From its mouth to the confluence of the American and Red rivers.
- Middle Fork Clearwater: From the South Fork upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers.
- Lochsa River: From its mouth to the Twin Bridges immediately upstream from the confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creeks. The daily limit is three salmon per day, no more than one of which may be an adult; the possession limit is nine, no more than three may be adults.
On the Clearwater and Lochsa rivers, the daily limit is three salmon per day, no more than one of which may be an adult; the possession limit is nine, no more than three may be adults.
- Snake River: From the Dug Bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. The daily limit is four salmon per day, no more than two of which may be adults; the possession limit is 12 salmon, no more than six may be adults.
The statewide annual limit is 40 adult Chinook salmon.
When the limit of adults is caught and kept, the angler must stop fishing for salmon - including catch-and-release. Only Chinook with a clipped adipose fin, evidenced by a healed scar, may be kept.
For additional rules and restrictions, please refer to the 2010 Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules, available at Fish and Game offices and license vendors or online at:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/rules/chinook_seasons/. All salmon anglers 14 years old and older must have a 2010 Idaho fishing license and salmon permit.
For an interactive map of open Chinook salmon seasons click here
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/rules/chinook_seasons/Salmon_Seas….
