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Ecology and salmon related articles

Salmon Fishing in the Clearwater Mainstem to Close

by CBB Staff
Columbia Basin Bulletin, June 13, 2008

Salmon fishing on the mainstem Clearwater River downstream of the South Fork Clearwater River will close at the end of fishing hours on Sunday, June 15.

Fishery managers for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game estimate that as of June 8, 2008, anglers harvested about 50 percent of the state's harvest share of adult hatchery chinook salmon returning to the Clearwater River drainage.

By June 15, it is estimated that more than 75 percent will be harvested. Harvest is estimated by daily angler surveys.

To ensure sufficient fishing opportunities in the tributaries, the state's harvest share remaining after June 15 will be used to continue existing fisheries. These fisheries include North Fork Clearwater, Middle Fork Clearwater, South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers. Fishing is expected to improve on these rivers, but so far have accounted for relatively low harvest (7 percent of the harvest).

To ensure sufficient harvest opportunities in the South Fork Clearwater and Lochsa rivers, additional closures could occur in the future on the North Fork Clearwater and Middle Fork Clearwater rivers. Fishery managers will provide an update on fishery status and potential fishery closures in the Clearwater River basin every Monday until the season closes.

By managing the remaining portion of the state's harvest share in this manner, fishery managers expect some salmon fishing in the Clearwater River basin to remain open through the July 4 weekend. All salmon fishing in the Clearwater River basin will close once the remainder of the state's harvestable share of Clearwater River hatchery chinook salmon is harvested.

Jack chinook salmon and adult chinook are each defined by regulation and have separate bag limits. The jack bag limit is two per day and six in possession statewide. By regulation jacks are not to be punched on the permit. If an angler chooses to punch a jack it will count as an adult and go toward the daily bag limit for an adult.

Adult bag limits are fishery specific and an angler, all adults must be punched on the permit card and an angler must cease fishing he or she has caught the adult bag limit.


CBB Staff
Salmon Fishing in the Clearwater Mainstem to Close
Columbia Basin Bulletin, June 13, 2008

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