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Anglers May Retain Fall Chinook for First Time in 30 Years by Staff Latah Eagle, September 19, 2008

For the first time in over 30 years, Idaho anglers will have the opportunity to retain a fall Chinook salmon in a portion of the Snake River above Lewiston.

Beginning October 3, Idaho licensed anglers will be able to keep one adipose clipped fall Chinook salmon per day on the Snake River from the Southway Bridge at Lewiston upstream to Hells Canyon Dam. These fish can weigh over 40 pounds, although the majority of the catch will average between 5 and 15 pounds.

The increased number of fall Chinook returning to Idaho has made this fishery possible. Fishery managers anticipate that up to 6,500 adipose fin clipped fall Chinook salmon could return to the Snake River above Lewiston this fall. About 21,000 fall Chinook are anticipated to cross over Lower Granite Dam. The majority of adipose clipped fish that will be available to harvest were released as part of an effort to mitigate for impacts caused from construction of Snake River Dams.

Fishery managers will be monitoring the fishery closely to make sure that impacts to natural origin fall chinook will be within acceptable limits. Anglers are reminded that one or more of the three areas opened could close to the harvest of fall Chinook earlier than October 31 due to conservation concerns.

Regulations pertaining to the harvest of fall Chinook are as follows:

Areas open:
Snake River from the Southway Bridge (rm 141) at Lewiston upstream to the mouth of the Salmon River (rm 188.2).

Snake River from the mouth of the Salmon River upstream to Granite Creek (rm 240-approximately 7 miles downstream of Hells Canyon Dam).

Snake River from Granite Creek upstream to Hells Canyon Dam (rm 247.0).

Season and hours:
October 3 until further notice or October 31, whichever comes first.

Seven days per week and 24 hours per day.

Licenses and Permits:
Everyone, except those expressly exempt, must have a valid Idaho fishing license and salmon permit to retain a fall chinook. A valid 3-Day Salmon/Steelhead license fulfills this requirement.

Daily, possession and season limits:
One adipose fin clipped Chinook salmon per day (including Jacks), 3 in possession.

No person shall take more than 40 Chinook salmon during the 2008 calendar year. This includes spring, summer, and fall Chinook salmon.

Methods of Take:
Only barbless hooks may be used when fishing for fall Chinook salmon. Bending the barb down to the shank of a single, double, or treble hook will meet this requirement.

It is unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8 inch measured from the point of the hook to the shank.

Special Rules:
It shall be unlawful to fish in any waters while having fish in possession which violate rules for those waters.

Once an angler has attained his or her daily, possession, or season limit of salmon, he or she must cease fishing for salmon, including catch and release fishing.

This is part of the October 2, 2008 online edition of The Latah Eagle.