Salmon fishing will close at the end of fishing Sunday, June 22, on the Middle Fork Clearwater, the Snake, and Lower Salmon rivers.
Salmon fishing will close at the end of fishing hours on Sunday, June 22, on:
- Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of Lochsa and Selway rivers.
- Snake River from Dug bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.
- Lower Salmon River mainstem from the Hammer Creek Boat ramp upstream to Shorts Creek, about 1.4 miles upstream of the mouth of the Little Salmon River.
Salmon fishing will remain open in the North Fork Clearwater River below Dworshak Dam, the South Fork Clearwater River, the Lochsa River, and the Little Salmon River.
Clearwater River: Fishery managers for the Idaho Fish and Game estimate that as of June 15, anglers caught 64 percent of the state's harvest share of adult hatchery Chinook salmon returning to the Clearwater River drainage. They estimate that by June 22, the state's share of salmon destined for the Kooskia Fish Hatchery will be met.
To ensure sufficient brood stock reaches the Kooskia Hatchery, it is necessary to close salmon fishing in the Middle Fork Clearwater River. Within the Clearwater River drainage, Chinook fishing will remain open in the North Fork Clearwater, South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers.
Fish and Game will provide updates on fishery status and potential closures in the Clearwater River basin every Monday until the season closes. Fish and Game expects some salmon fishing in the Clearwater River basin to remain open through the July Fourth weekend.
All salmon fishing in the Clearwater River basin will close once the remainder of the state's harvest share of Clearwater River hatchery salmon has been caught.
Snake River: Chinook salmon fishing in the Snake River from Dug Bar Boat Ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam will close at the end of fishing hours June 22. This decision was based on concerns about the extent of incidental take of natural origin Chinook (adipose fin present) salmon caught and released in this reach of river.
Lower Salmon River: The Chinook season on the lower Salmon River - from Hammer Creek boat ramp to Time Zone Bridge and Time Zone Bridge to Shorts Creek - will close as listed in the regulations at the end of fishing hours June 22. Fish and Game anticipates that about 75 percent of the state's harvest share of Chinook salmon destined for the Rapid River Hatchery will be caught by this date. This will leave about 25 percent of the state's remaining share to be harvested from the Little Salmon River.
Salmon fishing in the Little Salmon River will remain open until the state's harvest share is met or August 3, whichever comes first.
