Salmon Fishing In Parts Of The Clearwater River Basin To Close June 20

Contact: Mike Demick - 799-5010 Salmon fishing on the mainstem Clearwater River, Middle Fork Clearwater River and North Fork Clearwater River will close at the end of fishing hours on Sunday, June 20. Fishery managers for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game estimate that as of June 17, anglers have harvested about 84 percent of the state's harvest share of surplus adult hatchery salmon returning to the Clearwater River drainage. By June 20, it is estimated that more than 90 percent will have been harvested. To ensure sufficient opportunity in tributary fisheries, the portion of the state's harvest share remaining after June 20 will be used to continue existing fisheries in the South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers that are now just starting to provide successful fishing opportunity, but so far have accounted for relatively low harvest. These fisheries will close once the remainder of the state's share of surplus hatchery salmon is harvested. By managing the remaining portion of the state's harvest share in the South Fork and Lochsa rivers, fisheries managers expect these fisheries to remain open through the July 4 weekend.