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Fall Chinook fishing opens September 1;
Coho could be added |
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August 6, 2015 |
Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopted a fall
chinook salmon fishing season to open Sept. 1 on
parts of the Snake, Clearwater and Salmon
rivers, and Idaho could see its second-ever
sport fishing season for coho salmon on Sept. 1
pending commission approval in August.
Commissioners approved opening dates for fall
chinook fishing boundaries and rules during
their meeting in Pocatello on Thursday, July 30.
The 2015 fall chinook forecast is 37,000
hatchery and naturally-produced fall chinook to
the Snake River basin. Last year's run was
59,000 fall chinook.
Fall chinook fishing on the Snake River will be
open from the Washington-Idaho border upstream
to Hells Canyon Dam.
Fishing on the Snake River from the Idaho Border
to Cliff Mountain Rapids (about a mile
downstream of Hells Canyon Dam) is scheduled to
be open until Oct.31, but could be closed sooner
depending on the actual number of fish that
return and the amount of harvest. The stretch
between Hells Canyon Dam and Cliff Mountain
Rapids is scheduled to remain open until Nov.
17, or until further notice.
Other areas opening for fall chinook fishing on
Sept. 1 are:
- The Clearwater River, from its mouth upstream
to Memorial Bridge. Open until Oct. 31, or
further notice.
- Salmon River, from its mouth upstream about
three-fourths of a mile to Eye of the Needle
Rapids until Oct. 31 or further notice.
A valid fishing license and salmon permit are
required to fish for fall chinook. Only
adipose-clipped salmon may be kept. The daily
bag limit is six adult fall chinook salmon, the
possession limit is 18 adult fall chinook. There
is no season limit on adult fall chinook.
Only adult fall chinook (24-inches and longer)
must be recorded on the angler's salmon permit.
There are no daily, possession or season limits
on fall chinook jacks (those less than 24
inches).
Coho fishing
Although fewer coho are expected to return than
last year, Idaho Fish and Game and the Nez Perce
Tribe are expecting enough to provide a tribal
and non-tribal sport fishery proposed to start
September 1.
Fish and Game commissioners are scheduled to
vote on the proposal during their regular
meeting August 11.
The proposal is to open a non-tribal coho
fishery on September 1 in the mainstem and
Middle Fork Clearwater River from the mouth
upstream to Clear Creek, near Kooskia and the
North Fork Clearwater River below Dworshak Dam.
If approved, the daily limit will be two fish
per day and six in possession.
Because coho populations don't have early
maturing males, or "jacks," to help biologists
forecast returns, it's difficult to know how
many coho will be available for anglers. Most
coho will arrive in Idaho in late September or
early October.
State and tribal managers will modify the
fishery based on updates of the coho run as fish
come through the Columbia and Snake River dams. |
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