Fall Chinook Season Opens

Fall Chinook salmon seasons open September 1 in the Snake River from the Washington-Idaho border upstream to Hells Canyon Dam and in the Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the Memorial Bridge. The season runs until October 31 or further notice: The Snake River is divided into four management sections:

• From the Washington-Idaho border upstream to the Bridge Street Bridge - the Blue Bridge.
• From Bridge Street upstream to the Oregon-Washington border.
• From the Oregon-Washington border upstream to the mouth of Sheep Creek.
• From the Mouth of Sheep Creek up stream to Hells Canyon Dam.

The Clearwater River:

• From its mouth upstream to the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge.

Salmon anglers may keep six adult fall Chinook daily. The field possession limit is 18 adult fall Chinook. There is no limit on the total number of adult fall Chinook an angler may keep during the fall season. An adult Chinook is 24 or more inches in total length, and only Chinook with a clipped adipose fin may be kept. The season is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are no daily, possession or season limits on fall Chinook jacks, but only jacks with a clipped adipose fin may be kept. Anglers must have a valid permit to fish for salmon, but they are not required to record the jacks on their permits. New rules that took effect August 1 allow anglers to transport anadromous salmon and steelhead without the head and tail attached - but only under a number of conditions:

• The fish must be recorded on the angler's salmon or steelhead permit.
• The processed fish must have the skin attached, including the portion with a healed, clipped adipose fin scar.
• It must be packaged in a way that the number of harvested fish can be determined.
• The fish must be processed ashore when the angler is done fishing for the day.
• No processed salmon or steelhead may be transported by boat.
• No jack salmon may be processed in the field.
• Processed salmon or steelhead count toward an angler's possession limit while in the field or in transit.

This rule applies to fall Chinook and steelhead fishing, this fall.