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Idaho Salmon Season Opening Chinook Fashionably Late by Rich Landers Spokesman Review, April 17, 2012

SALMON FISHING -- Though the fishing season for Chinook salmon opens on Sunday, April 22, in the Clearwater River, Snake River, Little Salmon and lower Salmon rivers, this year's run is appears to be one of the latest on record.

No fish had crossed Lower Granite Dam on the Snake River as of April 15.

And as the chart shows, fewer than average are over Bonneville Dam, the first dam the fish encounter coming up the Columbia.

Read on for details of the upcoming season:

Season closing dates will be announced by Fish and Game.

In the Clearwater River drainage the daily limit is four Chinook; only two may be adults (24 or more inches long), but only one adult may be from the North Fork Clearwater. The possession limit is 12, only six may be adults.

In the Snake River from Dug Bar to Hells Canyon Dam, the lower Salmon and the Little Salmon rivers, the daily limit is four Chinook; only two may be adults. The possession limit is 12; only six may be adults.

The statewide annual limit is 20 adult Chinook in the 2012 seasons occurring before September 1.

Daylight fishing hours are in the season brochure.

Waters that open April 22 are:

• Clearwater River, main stem:
  • Lower - from the Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge at Lewiston upstream to the Cherrylane Bridge

  • Middle - from the Cherrylane Bridge upstream to the Orofino Bridge, excluding the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish Hatchery at Ahsahka, and excluding the ladder to the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery as marked by posted boundaries about 100 yards upstream and downstream of the ladder and extending into the river about 50 yards.

  • Upper - from the Orofino Bridge upstream to the South Fork Clearwater River.
• North Fork Clearwater: From the mouth to the Dworshak Dam, excluding the perimeter of the Dworshak National Hatchery at Ahsahka.

• South Fork Clearwater: From its mouth to the confluence of the American and Red rivers.

• Middle Fork Clearwater: From the South Fork upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers.

• Lochsa River:From its mouth to the Twin Bridges immediately upstream from the confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creeks.

• Lower Salmon River:
  oPine Bar - From the Rice Creek Bridge upstream to the posted boundary about 200 yards downstream of the Hammer Creek boat ramp.
  • Hammer Creek - From a posted boundary about 200 yards downstream from the Hammer Creek boat ramp upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Time Zone Bridge.

  • Park Hole - From the Time Zone Bridge upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of Short's Creek, about 1.4 miles upstream of the mouth of the Little Salmon River.

  • Vinegar Creek - From posted boundary at the mouth of Shorts' Creek upstream to the uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek.
• Little Salmon:
  • Lower - From the mouth to a posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the mouth of the Rapid River.

  • Upper - from the posted boundary about 200 yards upstream of the Rapid River upstream to the U.S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road.
• Snake River: From the Dug Bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam.

Seasons for Chinook fishing in the South Fork Salmon and the upper Salmon rivers will be proposed to the commission at the scheduled May meeting.

Salmon seasons and limits may change on short notice, please check the salmon hotline at: 855-287-2702 or the Fish and Game website.