Commission Changes 2024 Spring Chinook Salmon Season in the Clearwater River Basin

The Fish and Game Commission met today (May 16, 2024) to discuss a season and limit change recommended by IDFG staff for the spring Chinook Salmon fishery in the Clearwater River basin. 

Seasons and limits for the spring Chinook Salmon fishery in the Clearwater River basin were initially set by the commission on March 20, 2024. The seasons and limits were set based on a preseason forecast that estimated about 8,000 adult, hatchery spring Chinook Salmon would return to the Clearwater River basin and provide a harvest share of around 1,400 fish. Using this information, a season was set providing a 4-day/week fishery with a daily limit of four (4) fish with no more than one (1) being an adult (> 24 inches).

Now that about 90% of Idaho’s spring return has passed over Bonneville Dam, we have a good idea of how many fish will ultimately return to the Clearwater River basin. We are now projecting that around 14,000 adult fish (based on PIT tags) will return to Clearwater River and provide a harvest share of around 4,500 fish. With this significant increase in harvest share, more opportunity can be provided to anglers without jeopardizing other important goals like an extended fishing season and distributing harvest fairly across the basin. Specially, IDFG staff recommended following the season and limit guidelines displayed in the “Harvest Matrix” table below that anglers helped develop and support.

Based on a 4,500 adult harvest share, the IDFG staff recommended to the commission to increase the number of days one could fish from 4 days/week to 7 days/week. This would not apply to the North Fork Clearwater River which would remain at 4 days/week. Additionally, IDFG staff recommended increasing the daily limit in the South Fork Clearwater River from 1 adult to 2 adults. The commission adopted the staff's recommendation based on this information. These changes took effect immediately. All other seasons and rules for Idaho’s spring Chinook Salmon fisheries will remain the same. 

For details on Idaho’s spring Chinook Salmon seasons and rules please refer to this link: https://idfg.idaho.gov/fish/chinook/rules/spring

Many people have been asking whether we would be increasing the season limit which is set at 10 adult fish. No recommendation was provided to the commission to increase the season limit. This is because the season limit applies to all spring and summer Chinook Salmon fisheries across the state. Although the Clearwater River basin fishery is coming in better than forecasted, most of the other fisheries are actually coming in lower than forecasted.