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Fall Chinook Season on Snake Opens Sept. 1 by Staff Wallowa County Chieftain, August 26, 2015

Fall Chinook season declared for Sept. 1 start.

The upper Snake River will open to hatchery fall Chinook fishing on Monday, Sept. 1, Oregon fishery managers announced.

The river will be open from the Oregon/Washington border to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam and will remain open until Oct. 31, or until a closure is announced. In addition, the reach from Cliff Mountain Rapid (at river mile 246.7) upstream to the deadline at Hells Canyon Dam will be open from Nov. 1-17.

The daily bag limit will be six adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon. Anglers can also keep an unlimited number of fin-clipped jack Chinook. Chinook jacks are salmon between 15 and 24 inches long.

"Fall Chinook runs in the Snake River have been impressive in recent years," said Kyle Bratcher, ODFW fish biologist in Enterprise. "We expect fewer fish than last year, however we're still projecting a very strong run topping 35,000 fish into the Snake River Basin."

In recent years, more and more Oregon anglers have discovered this productive fishery thanks to liberal bag limits and a long season. "With strong runs, this fishery has provided some fantastic opportunities for Northeast Oregon anglers to take home a cooler full of hatchery fish," Bratcher said.

Only barbless hooks may be used on this stretch of the Snake River, and anglers should consult the 2015 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for other rules that may apply.

Snake River fall Chinook migrate over 800 miles and pass eight mainstream dams to reach Hells Canyon, the farthest any salmon will travel in Oregon.