Anglers have one more weekend to pursue chinook salmon along Idaho's upper Salmon River.
The stretch of river from the town of Salmon upstream to the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery weir south of Stanley will close for the summer at the end of fishing hours on Sunday, July 26, a news release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game states. It's the last stretch of the Salmon to close to chinook fishing.
Last year's season was the first on the upper Salmon River in 31 years.
Fishing hours for the rare fishery are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Areas that will remain open to chinook fishing on the upper Salmon until Sunday are:
· From the city of Salmon upstream to the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River. This area stretches from the cable car crossing at the USGS flow-gauging station, about 150 yards downstream of Island Park in Salmon, upstream to the posted boundary at the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River. Here, the daily bag limit is six salmon, but only two chinook, at least 24 inches long, may be kept.
· From the Pahsimeroi River to the East Fork of the Salmon River. This area stretches from a posted boundary at the mouth of the Pahsimeroi, upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of the East Fork. Only two chinook, at least 24 inches long, may be kept.
· From the East Fork of the Salmon River to the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery. This area stretches from a posted boundary at the mouth of the East Fork upstream to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth hatchery, which is south of Stanley. Only two adult chinook, at least 24 inches long, may be kept.
Jason Kauffman: jkauffman@mtexpress.com
