BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Fish and Game Commission are holding a discussion on whether to approve a summer Chinook salmon season.
The brief spring season closed earlier this month with the agency saying a summer season is likely. The commission will hold a conference call Thursday to take a look at the current status of Chinook salmon returns to the South Fork Salmon river.
Public meetings to seek input on 2019 season Chinook salmon fisheries were held to provide information to allow for public comment on potential seasons. Meetings were held by Idaho Department of Fish and Game staff in Nampa, Boise, McCall, Lewiston, Orofino, Moscow and Riggins in February.
The staff recommendation was to approve the proposed 219 Chinook salmon fishing season for the South Fork Salmon River. The justification is that salmon and steelhead mitigation hatcheries were built to compensate for fishing opportunity lost as a result of hydropower development. The proposed seasons would provid anglers the opportunity to fish for salmon returning to the hatcheries.
