FISHING -- The second-ever fishing season for coho in Idaho will end Friday, Sept. 18, at midnight in the mainstem Clearwater, Middle Fork Clearwater and North Fork Clearwater rivers. 

Based on fish counts and tag detections at Columbia River dams, the estimated number of adult coho salmon returning to the Clearwater River is far less than the preseason forecast, Idaho Fish and Game officials say.

The coho return to the Clearwater River will likely be less than what is required for hatchery broodstock and none will be available for harvest.  

This new fishery resulted from the work of the Nez Perce Tribe which initiated a coho salmon hatchery program to restore coho to the Clearwater River basin.

Last year, more than 18,000 coho passed over Lower Granite Dam, with the previous high around 5,000 fish. 

As of Monday, Sept. 14, only 9 coho had crossed Lower Granite Dam. 

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