FISHING -- Washington and Idaho are closing all or most of their Snake River spring chinook fishing seasons. Some stretches have closed while other seasons are set to end tonight or on Monday, May 30. 

Washington locations:

A)  Below Ice Harbor Dam: Snake River from the southbound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam;

B)  Below Little Goose Dam: Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (south side of the river upstream from the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone includes the rock and concrete area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (including the walkway area locally known as "the Wall" in front of the juvenile collection facility);

C) Clarkston: Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream about 3.5 miles to the Washington state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA/ID boundary waters marker on the Whitman County shore).  

Dates: 

• Areas A (Below Ice Harbor Dam) and C (Clarkston) closed Wednesday evening.
• Area B (Below Little Goose Dam) will close one hour after official sunset on Monday, May 30, 2016. 

Reason for action: Based on the current harvest estimates and anticipated harvest at Little Goose through Monday next week, state fishery managers anticipate that 1,300-1,350 adult hatchery chinook to have been harvested. This will be very close to the current Snake River allotment amount of 1,354 adults based on the current run size prediction.

In IDAHO:

The lower Clearwater River from the Cherrylane Bridge upstream to the Orofino Bridge will close to fishing for all Chinook salmon at the end of fishing hours (9 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time) tonight, May 27. 

In addition, the North Fork Clearwater River will close to fishing for all Chinook salmon effective the end of fishing hours (9 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time) on Monday, May 30, 2016. Due to this year’s low jack return, a “Jack Only” harvest season will not be provided.

These closures are being implemented because the harvest quota for adult Chinook salmon are anticipated to be met in these river sections by those dates. Harvest quotas in different reaches within the Clearwater drainage were developed using input from the public to help ensure all communities in the watershed have opportunities to harvest salmon.

Chinook salmon seasons will continue on the Clearwater River upstream of the Orofino Bridge, South Fork Clearwater, Middle Fork Clearwater, Little Salmon, Lochsa, and Snake rivers. The upper Salmon River and the South Fork Salmon River open June 18th.

Check for Idaho updates here.