the film forum library tutorial contact

Idaho Fall Chinook Season Opens Friday by Staff Lewiston Tribune, October 1, 2008

Idaho anglers will be able to catch and keep hatchery fall chinook on a 75-mile stretch of the Snake River starting Friday.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the first fall chinook fishery in the state in more than 30 years Wednesday.

"I didn't expect this to happen in my lifetime," said commissioner Fred Trevey of Lewiston. "We are just pretty darn excited about this opportunity." Under rules of the fishery, anglers can keep one adult or jack fall chinook per day between the Southway Bridge at Lewiston and Hells Canyon Dam. Fishing will be allowed 24 hours per day and seven days per week.

The season will close Oct. 31 or before if fisheries biologist determine too many wild fall chinook are being caught and released. Fisheries officials expect anglers could catch between 600 and 1,000 hatchery fall chinook during the short season. To fish for fall chinook anglers need to have a valid fishing license and a salmon permit.

This year's fall chinook run is the largest on record since Lower Granite Dam was built on the Snake River. To date nearly 15,000 fall chinook have been counted crossing the dam and fisheries biologists expect that number to climb to 20,000 before the end of the run.