More Streams Open To Chinook Fishing The Salmon In The Lochsa And South Fork Of The Clearwater Are Hatchery-Raised

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission has opened two more streams to fishing for hatchery-raised chinook salmon.

Meeting by conference call Monday, the commission voted to open parts of the Lochsa River and the South Fork of the Clearwater River for a season to run through Aug. 3.

Limits for the two streams combined are two chinook per day and four in possession.

The statewide season limit of 18 applies, and fishing hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The Lochsa River is open from its mouth near Lowell, upstream about 58 miles to the Warm Springs Creek Pack Bridge.

The South Fork of the Clearwater is open from its mouth near Kooskia, upstream about 47 miles to the Rainy Day Bridge at the intersection of Forest Service Road No. 1875 and Idaho Highway 14.

In the Lochsa River, tackle is restricted to artificial flies and lures with a single barbless hook.

No bait may be used. South Fork Clearwater anglers must use barbless hooks, but they may be single, double or treble and bait is allowed.

The chinook salmon in both streams are not listed under the Endangered Species Act because they may be genetically different from salmon that evolved there.

They have been introduced from other areas to mitigate for lost native chinook runs.

The fishing season is the first on the two streams resulting from planting efforts involving the Dworshak, Kooskia and Clearwater fish hatcheries and adult salmon trapping facilities at Powell, Crooked River and Red River.