Chinook salmon fishing will remain open at least through the weekend on the South Fork Salmon River.

Idaho Fish and Game fish managers say there are enough of the state’s share of hatchery-origin Chinook salmon coming up the South Fork to keep the fishery open through Monday, July 14. They will reevaluate the run size and harvest numbers Monday morning and expect to manage the fishery on a day-to-day basis after that, with closure notice as short as 24 hours.

South Fork Salmon River is open from the bridge on Forest Service Road 48 - Lick Creek/East Fork South Fork Road - where it crosses the South Fork Salmon River mainstem, just upstream from the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, upstream about 33 river miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap, open until further notice.

Limits for adult Chinook salmon on the South Fork Salmon River are two per day and six in possession. The statewide salmon limit is 40 per season. Anglers may keep two jacks per day and have six in possession, but they are not required to record the jacks on a salmon permit.

When the adult limit is reached, the angler must stop fishing for salmon, including catch and-release.

Fishing hours are from one half hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, local time. Anglers may use only barbless hooks no larger than five-eighths inch from the point to the shank. A single hook may have up to three points.

Anglers must have a valid fishing license and salmon permit in possession to fish for salmon. Please consult the 2008-2009 Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure, the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish or a Fish and Game office for additional rules, license costs and other information.

Chinook salmon fishing also remains open on the Upper Salmon River from the Highway 75 Bridge over the mainstem of the Salmon River at milepost 213.5 (about nine miles west of Clayton) upstream to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley, until further notice or August 2, whichever comes first.

Chinook limits and rules are the same as on the South Fork.

This information comes from Idaho Fish and Games web Site

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I offer my apology to those of you who have been following my blog post.  Do to a recent illness I was not able to keep up with my postings and while salmon season is closed on most waters here in Idaho I hope I can keep you up to date on what is still opened and the fishing conditions on them; now that I am on the feet again.

*Salmon seasons open on the Fourth of July weekend

Though salmon fishing closes Tuesday on several river segments, two rivers will remain open over the Fourth of July weekend, providing a combined 63 miles of river open to salmon fishing.

Almost 30 miles of the Upper Salmon River is open for salmon fishing, a stretch that has not been open to recreational salmon fishing in 30 years.

This year 25 miles of the South Fork Salmon River that have not been open to recreational salmon fishing for 43 years are open for salmon fishing. In addition, the eight miles that have been open for recreational salmon fishing during open seasons since 1997 are again open this year.

Salmon fishing remains open over the Fourth of July weekend on the:

• Upper Salmon River from the Highway 75 Bridge over the Salmon River at milepost 213.5 (about nine miles west of Clayton) upstream to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley, until further notice or August 2, whichever comes first.
• South Fork Salmon River from the bridge on Forest Service Road 48 - Lick Creek/East Fork South Fork Road/ - where it crosses the South Fork Salmon River, just upstream from the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, upstream about 33 river miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap, open until further notice.

Any waters not specifically open are closed to Chinook salmon fishing. Anglers may use only barbless hooks no larger than five-eighths inch from the point to the shank. A single hook may have up to three points.

Fishing hours are from one half hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, local time. Limits for adult Chinook salmon are two per day, six in possession and 40 for the season. Anglers may keep two jacks per day and have six in possession, but they do not count on the salmon limit.

*( the above information was taken from the Idaho Fish and Game website at  http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/ )

 I would not recommend waiting to long before you get out and try your luck on these rivers as who knows when this magical quota number will be met and the Fish and Game will be forced to close down the salmon fishing on these rivers too.

RR Smith

Steelhead Gear.Com
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