In brief: Idaho spring chinook season opens April 25

The earliest spring chinook fishing to be approved for Idaho waters will begin April 25.

The state Fish and Game Commission Tuesday approved seasons and rules for the spring salmon season during its meeting in Boise. The 2015 returns are expected to be about the same as last year.

The seasons are based on a projected sport harvest of about 11,700 adipose-clipped chinook salmon in the Clearwater, Snake, lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers.

In the Clearwater Basin, except for the South Fork Clearwater River, limits are set at four fish a day, only one of which may be an adult. The possession limit in these parts of the Clearwater River drainage will be twelve fish, only three of which may be adults.

In the South Fork Clearwater, lower Salmon, Little Salmon and Snake River fisheries, anglers will be allowed to keep four fish per day, only two of which may be adults.

The possession limit in these fisheries will be twelve fish, of which only six may be adults.

Climbing area closed

A portion of the China Bend climbing area has been closed to protect nesting raptors, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area officials announced Wednesday.

The closure shuts down an area upstream from Kettle Falls to all public use until July 15.

The area includes Park Serviced lands at the west end of the cliff formation known as the China Bend climbing area’s “Main Wall.”

A map of the closure is on the park web site: nps.gov/laro.

Steelheading to close

Steelhead and whitefish seasons will close on the upper Columbia River and tributaries on March 31 to protect steelhead spawning, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday.

The closure affects the mainstem Columbia from Rock Island Dam upstream to Chief Joseph Dam area, as well as portions of the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat, Methow, Okanogan and Similkameen rivers.

Firewood permits out

The 2015 personal-use firewood permits are available for the Colville National Forest at ranger stations and at the Spokane Bureau of Land Management office. Permits are $20 for four cords. The maximum per household is 12 cords.