Salmon Seasons

Fishery managers for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game expect that the salmon fishery in the Clearwater River drainage will remain open at least through June 20. Harvest of hatchery salmon has been lower than expected recently, largely a result of high river flows. An updated estimate of the spring chinook run indicates the sport fishery harvest share for the Clearwater River is about 8,500 adipose-clipped salmon. Fishery managers estimate that as of June 10, salmon anglers had harvested 70 percent of Idaho's share of 8,500 surplus adult hatchery fish returning to the Clearwater River. Fisheries managers will continue to evaluate fishery status on a weekly basis. Any portion of the sport anglers' harvest share remaining beyond June 20 may be used to continue fisheries in the South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers that have been slow to start and so far have accounted for relatively low harvest. All spring chinook fishing areas in the Clearwater River drainage will close once the sport anglers'share of the surplus is harvested. Fish and Game management aims to provide as much salmon fishing as possible within the quotas that govern harvest of salmon in the Northwest. Meanwhile, the popular chinook fishery on the Little Salmon River continues with good fishing expected to continue until waters warm considerably. The season centered on the Riggins area runs through August 1 or until further notice. Hatchery chinook are also available to anglers in the Boise River. Several hundred surplus salmon have been trucked to the river that runs through Idaho's biggest city. The Lower Salmon River will remain open to spring chinook fishing through June 20. The Hells Canyon reach of the Snake River will be open through August 1 for spring chinook fishing unless the season must be closed earlier for biological reasons. Salmon fishing on the South Fork of the Salmon River is set to begin June 21. Rules pamphlets for this season are available now at license vendors and Fish and Game offices. Fish and Game is awaiting federal approval to extend the lower Salmon River season upstream to Vinegar Creek starting June 21. The department will update the public as soon as possible on that extension of season.