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Ecology and salmon related articles

Idaho Aporoves Approved
Spring Chinook Fishing to Begin April 25

by Staff
Columbia Basin Bulletin, March 26, 2020

30,000 Hatchery Fish Expected to Reach Lower Granite Dam

Graphic: Survival of juvenile salmon from the Washington/Idaho border to beyond Bonneville Dam has averaged around 50% survival.  In other words, half of them die while migrating through the federal hydropower system. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission on March 20 approved spring chinook fishing on the Clearwater, Snake, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers to start April 25, 2020 and run until closed by the Fish and Game director.

Fisheries managers are forecasting a better run this year compared to last year, although in recent years forecasts have overestimated the actual run size. This year’s forecast is projecting a return of about 30,000 hatchery fish to Lower Granite Dam, which is about 35 miles downstream from Lewiston and the last of the eight dams that returning salmon cross on their way back to Idaho.

The harvest share forecasted for Idaho sport anglers is 2,900 adults in the Clearwater, Lower Salmon, Little Salmon and Snake rivers, which includes about 1,000 fish in the Clearwater, 1,600 in the Lower Salmon/Little Salmon rivers, and 300 in the Snake River.

The actual run has just started, with just 51 adult spring chinook crossing Bonneville Dam as of March 25.

Rules will include open fishing two days per week, Saturday and Sunday, in the Clearwater River system, four days per week in the Salmon and Little Salmon rivers, Thursday through Sunday, and seven days per week in the Snake River.

Daily bag limits for all open waters will be four per day, with no more than one being an adult (24-inches or longer).

Areas open to fishing for Chinook Salmon include:

Clearwater River Drainage

Salmon River Drainage Snake River Drainage
Staff
Idaho Aporoves Approved Spring Chinook Fishing to Begin April 25
Columbia Basin Bulletin, March 26, 2020

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