Salmon Season to Close in Main, South Fork Salmon River

Fish and Game director Steve Huffaker today announced that salmon seasons will close in the Main Salmon River and its South Fork at the end of fishing hours Saturday, July 3. Salmon seasons have been ongoing in various Idaho waters since April 24. After discussions with staff and commissioners, Huffaker decided to use the director's discretionary powers to close the salmon fisheries in the Main Salmon River and the South Fork of the Salmon River (sections 11,12, and 21) as a conservation emergency. The fisheries are to close at the end of fishing hours on Saturday, July 3. Huffaker explained: "The biological reason for the closure is that staff projects by July 3 we will have taken the allowable number of listed summer chinook. The announcement is being made now because we know this will disrupt plans for a large number of salmon anglers, and we want to give as much notice as possible. I know many people and communities will be unhappy, but it is essential the Department take its conservation responsibilities seriously." "We have had a long and very successful salmon season this year, and salmon fisheries elsewhere remain open. Staff will recap the status of fisheries and we will inform Commissioners via conference call at 8:00 a.m. local time tomorrow." Ongoing salmon fisheries in the Little Salmon River, the Lochsa River, and the South Fork of the Clearwater River will not be affected by the closure.