LEWISTON, ID – The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will close harvest of unclipped adult fall Chinook salmon statewide beginning Friday, Sept. 19, through Friday, Sept. 26.

During this period, fisheries for adipose-clipped fall Chinook will remain open, but all unclipped adult Chinook must be released unharmed.

According to IDFG, warm water in the Columbia and Snake rivers has resulted in longer travel times and fewer fish reaching Idaho than under normal conditions. The closure is intended to reduce overall mortality of wild Chinook, keep harvest within agreed shares, and ensure enough fish are available for spawning. Officials said the closure will also reduce the need to shut down the entire fishery for the remainder of the year.

Fisheries managers will review harvest through the week and continue tracking fish passage in the Columbia and Snake rivers. If sufficient wild fish impacts remain after Sept. 26, the harvest of unclipped adults may reopen.

Adipose-clipped adults 24 inches or longer and any jacks may still be harvested.