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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Idaho chinook season to close Aug. 10

Lewiston angler Chuck Thompson holds the huge chinook salmon he hooked Sunday morning in the Clearwater River. It weighed in at almost 36 pounds more than four hours after being caught.  (Courtesy photo)
Lewiston angler Chuck Thompson holds the huge chinook salmon he hooked Sunday morning in the Clearwater River. It weighed in at almost 36 pounds more than four hours after being caught. (Courtesy photo)

SALMON FISHING -- The Idaho Department of Fish and Game will close the Chinook salmon season across Idaho on the evening of Wednesday Aug. 10 at the end of fishing hours.

The closure affects waters of the Mainstem Clearwater River, the Middle Fork Clearwater River, the South Fork Clearwater River, the Lochsa River, the Snake River downstream from Hells Canyon Dam, the Little Salmon River and the Upper Salmon River.

“This has been one of the longest Chinook seasons we’ve had in recent years,” said Pete Hassemer, Idaho Fish and Game’s salmon and steelhead manager. “By this time of year, most of the Chinook have passed through the areas open to fishing on their way to hatcheries and spawning grounds and the success rate is slowing down.”

“At one point we had Chinook salmon fisheries open in the Clearwater drainage, parts of the Snake River, lower and upper Salmon Rivers, the South Fork Salmon River and Little Salmon River, all at the same time.”

Some tribal fisheries will remain open and those fisheries are managed by the tribes.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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