Upper Salmon River Chinook Season Closes Sunday

When the clock chimes 7 pm on Sunday, August 7, the first Chinook salmon season on the upper reaches of the Salmon River will close. That is the expiration date of the NOAA Fisheries permit allowing for this summer's long hoped-for season. Overall, the season has been considered a success in spite of fairly slow fishing. For local anglers from Salmon and Challis it was the return of part of the communities' collective heritage. Anglers old enough to remember the glory years of salmon fishing as well as young anglers, for whom salmon are just a memory, flocked to the river. More often than not, they came home empty handed, but thrilled just to be fishing for chinook in their own backyard. Salmon mayor Stan Davis who caught a 12 - 15 pound salmon said he was "shocked and thrilled" when the season opened. "It gives us old-timers a bit of a reflection on the past. And I fully support the concept of excess fish going to sportsmen for harvest" Davis commented. For Fish and Game staff, the season was the culmination of several years of planning and negotiations with NOAA Fisheries to get approval for a season on surplus hatchery-origin chinook. Staff from several department bureaus and regions stepped in to operate check stations and talk with anglers. The excitement of the staff closely matched that of the anglers. "It was really fun to be a part of such a momentous event." said Salmon Regional Supervisor Jim Lukens. "I enjoyed visiting with anglers and hearing their stories." And it is those stories that will carry through long after the season closes on the seventh of August.