Salmon Season in Salmon

For the first time in more than 30 years, anglers are able to fish for Chinook salmon in the city of Salmon beginning Saturday, June 20. The opening day for the long-awaited fishery was set on the historic arrival time of adult Chinook in the upper river. For many years, the third week of June marks the arrival of fish at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery near Stanley. However, this spring's sustained high water has delayed the upstream progress of the fish. Fishing success may be slow at the start, but as flows decline and the river continues to clear, fishing will improve very quickly. Although there are fewer fish migrating over the dams than originally predicted, there are still adequate numbers for a Chinook salmon season. The number of fish available for harvest ultimately depends on how many hatchery fish destined for both the Sawtooth or Pahsimeroi hatcheries actually migrate over the dams downstream. One important aspect to conducting a Chinook fishery is determining how many fish are available for harvest. Fish managers are able to make daily estimates of the number of fish available for harvest by tracking the proportion of uniquely tagged fish migrating over downriver dams. A representative number of juvenile salmon receive special tags called PIT tags at the hatchery prior to their release and migration to the ocean. When these fish return as adults, the PIT-tagged fish are identified at the dams. Knowing the proportion of marked fish counted at the dams enables fish managers to expand these numbers to estimate the total number of adults returning to a specific hatchery. Although this calculation might sound complex, this information has helped fish managers in past years to adjust the number of hatchery fish available for anglers. PIT tags are a great tool to maximize angler opportunity while simultaneously ensuring that an adequate number of fish return to the hatcheries for broodstock (eggs to fill the hatchery incubators) supplies for the future. So, why is Idaho experiencing improved runs of hatchery Chinook? The answer is probably a combination of a number of things. Decent springtime runoff that assists juvenile fish in their migration to the ocean, favorable ocean temperatures and feeding conditions, improvements in main-stem river passage, and habitat improvements all benefit fish populations. How long will these favorable conditions exist for fish? No one knows for sure, but fish and hatchery managers across Idaho are extremely pleased to offer these Chinook fisheries for Idaho's anglers. The Sawtooth and Pahsimeroi hatcheries were built to provide fish and fishing opportunity for anglers, and staff at both facilities has worked a long time for this fishery to become a reality. Please consult the 2009 Salmon season rules for the upper Salmon River before going Chinook salmon fishing. Here are the basics: the season opened on June 20th and will remain open until further notice. The boundaries extend from a point approximately 150 yards downstream of the Island Park in Salmon City (at a posted boundary at the cable car crossing at the USGS flow gauging station) upstream to the posted boundary approximately 100 yards downstream of Sawtooth Hatchery (eight miles upstream of Stanley). Anglers may fish from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Daily limits are 2 Chinook salmon greater than or equal to 24 inches; and all retained fish must be validated on a Chinook salmon permit once a fish is reduced to possession. Only fish marked with an adipose fin clip may be kept. Have a great season and we hope to see you on the river bank.