the film forum library tutorial contact

Snake River Anglers Prohibited from Keeping Wild Chinook Salmon from Sept. 19-Oct. 31 by Staff Baker City Herald, September 18, 2025

Fishing for hatchery chinook continues

ENTERPRISE -- Starting Friday, Sept. 19, and continuing through Oct. 31, anglers on the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam downstream to the Oregon/Washington border will not be allowed to keep any wild adult chinook salmon they catch.

Those are salmon longer than 24 inches and with an intact adipose fin.

During that period, anglers can continue to keep hatchery fall chinook adults and jacks, which have a clipped adipose fin.

The daily bag limit for hatchery adult chinook is three fish. There is no limit on jacks, which are less than 24 inches.

The closure doesn't affect steelhead angling.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is imposing the temporary ban on keeping wild chinook in concurrence with the Idaho Fish and Game Department.

According to a press release from ODFW, warm water in the Columbia and Snake rivers has slowed the return of wild chinook, meaning there are fewer fish so far in the Snake River.

"This temporary closure helps us stay within our harvest limits for wild fish while still keeping harvest of hatchery fish open for anglers," said Kyle Bratcher, district fish biologist at ODFW's Enterprise office. "By taking this step now, we can maintain opportunity for adipose-clipped chinook and hatchery steelhead fishing through the fall."

Typically, anglers are allowed to keep either wild or hatchery fall chinook during the season, which runs from Aug. 18-Oct. 31.

Officials in both Oregon and Idaho will continue to monitor salmon returns. If counts of fall chinook rise, anglers might be allowed to start keeping wild fish before the season ends Oct. 31.

"We know anglers value consistency, but conditions can change quickly," Bratcher said. "Our goal is to keep hatchery chinook and steelhead fisheries open as long as possible, and this closure gives us the flexibility to do that."

Related Sites:
by Garrett Christensen, Elkhorn Media Group, 9/19/25