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Idaho Fish and Game

Chinook Salmon Season Update, What's Open

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The Chinook season is now open on several Idaho rivers. All seasons continue until further notice. The upper Salmon and South Fork Salmon rivers opened June 12. Upper Salmon from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. MST.
  • Ellis Area - from the cable car crossing at the USGS flow gauging station about 150 yards downstream of Island Park in Salmon, upstream to the posted boundary about 20 yards above the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River in Ellis.
South Fork Salmon River from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
  • Lower - from the U.S. Forest Service bridge on Forest Service Road 48 - East Fork South Fork Road-Lick Creek Road - that crosses just upstream from the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River - upstream about 16 miles to a posted boundary about one mile upstream from Fourmile Campground. (About two miles downstream from Poverty Flat Campground).
  • Upper - from a posted boundary about one mile from Fourmile Campground, upstream about 17 miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap.
On the above waters, the daily limit is five Chinook salmon, only three of which may be adults, and the possession limit is 15 Chinook only nine of which may be adults. Adult Chinook salmon are 24 inches or more long, jacks are less than 24 inches in length. Also open until further notice are: Clearwater River, mainstem:
  • Upper - from the Orofino Bridge upstream to the South Fork Clearwater River.
South Fork Clearwater: From its mouth to the confluence of the American and Red rivers. Middle Fork Clearwater: From the South Fork upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers. On the Clearwater, the daily limit is three salmon per day, no more than one of which may be an adult; the possession limit is nine, no more than three may be adults. Lower Salmon River:
  • Pine Bar - From the Rice Creek Bridge upstream to the posted boundary about 200 yards downstream of the Hammer Creek boat ramp. This is a new section added this year.
  • Hammer Creek - From a posted boundary about 200 yards downstream from the Hammer Creek boat ramp upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Time Zone Bridge.
  • Park Hole - From the Time Zone Bridge upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of Short's Creek, about 1.4 miles upstream of the mouth of the Little Salmon River.
Little Salmon:
  • Lower - From the mouth to a posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the mouth of the Rapid River.
  • Upper - from the posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the Rapid River upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road.
On the Lower Salmon and Little Salmon, the daily limit is five salmon, only three of which may be adults; the possession limit is 15, only nine may be adults. Snake River: From the Dug Bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. The daily limit is four salmon per day, no more than two of which may be adults; the possession limit is 12 salmon, no more than six may be adults. Lochsa River: From its mouth to the Twin Bridges immediately upstream from the confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creeks. The daily limit is three salmon per day, no more than one of which may be an adult; the possession limit is nine, no more than three may be adults. Opening June 19 until further notice: Lower Salmon:
  • Vinegar Creek - From posted boundary at the mouth of Shorts' Creek upstream to the uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek. The daily limit is five salmon, only three of which may be adults; the possession limit is 15, only nine may be adults.
Opening July 3 through July 5: Upper Salmon: from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  • Stanley reach - on July 3 and close July 5 from the posted boundary about 20 yards upstream of Valley Creek in Stanley, upstream to the posted boundary 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery. The daily limit is three Chinook salmon, only one of which may be an adult; the possession limit is nine Chinook, only three of which may be adults.
The statewide limit for adult Chinook has been raised to 40 for the year. For additional rules and restrictions, please refer to the 2010 Spring Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules brochure, or check the Fish and Game Website at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov. All salmon anglers 14 years old and older must have a 2010 Idaho fishing license and salmon permit. For an interactive map of open Chinook salmon seasons click here: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/rules/chinook_seasons/Salmon_Seas…