LEWISTON, ID – The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will allow harvest of both clipped and unclipped adult fall Chinook salmon again starting Saturday, Oct. 4, following a temporary closure.
The department halted harvest of unclipped adult Chinook beginning Sept. 19 due to warm river temperatures and low numbers of wild fish reaching Idaho. The closure, which initially was set to end Sept. 26, was later extended through Oct. 3. During that time, only adipose-clipped adults 24 inches or longer and any jacks could be kept, while all unclipped fish had to be released.
Fisheries managers said the shutdown was intended to limit mortality of wild Chinook, stay within impact limits and ensure enough fish for spawning, rather than risk closing the entire fishery for the season.
On Wednesday, Idaho Fish and Game fisheries manager Joe DuPont said updated counts show more than 5,040 adult wild fall Chinook are expected to pass above Lower Granite Dam. That threshold increases the allowable harvest impact from 6% to more than 10%.
With cooler Snake River temperatures, fall Chinook are moving upstream. Fish are expected to start appearing soon near Heller Bar and in the lower Salmon River.
