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Snake River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishery Change by Staff Big Country News, May 29, 2025

Action: Opens spring Chinook salmon fishing
for four days on the Snake River

Open Tuesday and Friday, June 3 and 6, 2025.

Below Ice Harbor Dam; Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about seven miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam:

Open Wednesday and Thursday, June 4 and 5, 2025.

Species affected: Chinook salmon.

Rules:

Minimum size is 12 inches. Daily limit is four hatchery (adipose clipped) Chinook salmon including no more than one adult.

Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook salmon.

Anglers must stop fishing for salmon when the adult limit has been retained.

Barbless hooks required.

Night Closure in effect.

Reason for action: The upriver spring Chinook salmon run was upgraded increasing the catch balance in the Snake River to 957 based on WDFW Commission Policy C-3630. The U.S. v. Oregon (2018-2027) Management Agreement provides Endangered Species Act coverage for this fishery. Based on current harvest there is sufficient allocation to allow four more days of fishing.

Additional information: Adult Chinook salmon are 24 inches or longer. Adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon that may be retained must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All Chinook salmon with the adipose fin intact, all bull trout, and steelhead must be immediately released unharmed. Anglers cannot remove any Chinook salmon or steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily limit.

WDFW will monitor this fishery and the returns of spring Chinook salmon throughout the season and may close the fishery at any time due to harvest levels, ESA impacts, in-season run adjustments, or any combination thereof. Please continue to check emergency rules if you are planning to fish for spring Chinook salmon in the Snake River.

Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Refer to the 2024-2025 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional fishing rules.

Information contact: Jeremy Trump, District 3 Fish Biologist, 509-382-1005.