Salmon River Chinook Fishing Update

Even as stream flows are dropping on the South Fork Salmon River, angler anticipation for the river's highly popular Chinook salmon season is rising. This season, the hatchery Chinook sport harvest could approach the South Fork quota of 1,100 fish quickly. Like most of Idaho's Chinook seasons, the South Fork season has been delayed by high stream flows. Historically, South Fork Salmon River salmon runs delayed by early season high flows enter the river very quickly once flows begin to drop. Large numbers of salmon entering the fishing zone in a short period of time could result in high catch rates in a very short time. On the lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers, through the Fourth of July weekend anglers had harvested about 5,000 adult hatchery Chinook salmon or about 56 percent of the 9,000 fish sport harvest share. Catch rates and effort in the lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers are high, and harvest could approach the 9,000 adult salmon quota quickly for that fishery. On Tuesday, July 19, Idaho Fish and Game will re-assess the Chinook seasons in the South Fork and in the lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. After that date, these fisheries could close at any time. Anglers are encouraged to verify season status via the Fish and Game website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov, the salmon season hotline (855-287-2702), local Fish and Game offices, or license vendors. Or check the Fishing Planner's salmon fishing map at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/ifwis/fishingplanner/chinook/.