CLEARWATER TRIBUNE HOME

October 27, 2011

Fall Chinook harvest season closing soon

By Niels Nokkentved, IDFG

   Salmon fishing in Idaho will be over for the year when the fall Chinook harvest season on the Snake and Clearwater rivers ends Monday, Oct. 31.

   The season opened Sept. 1 on the Snake River between Lewiston and Hells Canyon Dam and, this year, in the lower Clearwater River downstream of the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge in Lewiston.

   Lewiston, Orofino, Riggins, and Grangeville areas are all showing good steelhead fishing, and the Riggins area is especially good! Hot Shot plugs are effective. Orofino river area is reporting excellent fly fishing.

   As of Oct. 24, anglers had caught 15 marked adults and 19 jacks and caught and released 51 unmarked fish in the lower Clearwater River. They caught and kept 151 adults and 375 jacks in the Snake River, for a total of 560 fish.

   Hatchery-origin fish are marked with a clipped adipose fin.

   This year, more than 25,000 fall adult and 19,000 jack Chinook salmon crossed Lower Granite Dam.

Sportsmen's Report sponsored by John and Lorraine Weiland