Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners have opened Chinook salmon fishing effective immediately on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River to allow anglers the opportunity to harvest hatchery fish bound for the Selway River that are normally caught in the Lower Clearwater River, which did not have a Chinook season during spring.
Officials say over 1,200 hatchery spring Chinook salmon are destined for the Selway River where the department has no ability to trap them and use them for brood stock. Because harvesting those fish will not affect how many fish are collect for brood, the commission decided to allow people to fish for them.
Fisheries managers did not propose a fishing season on the South Fork of the Salmon River because the run appears to be too small to support fishing, but managers will continue to monitor fish counts over the dams and may still open a fishery there if the run can support it.
Daily bag limits are four Chinook, only two of which may be adults. Possession limits are twelve Chinook, only six of which may be adults; and anglers may retain any fish with or without an intact adipose fin in the Middle Fork Clearwater River Chinook salmon fishery. (Idaho Department of Fish and Game)
