Idaho Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon are anadromous fish, meaning they migrate to the ocean as smolts and return to fresh water to spawn and then die. In Idaho, adults return to the Snake, Salmon and Clearwater rivers after 1 to 3 years at sea, generally 18 to 40 inches in length, and weighing up to 25 lbs. The migration journey home is impeded by many obstacles - predation, dams and pollution take their toll on dwindling return numbers.

Idaho's chinook salmon are often loosely separated into three groups - Spring, Summer and Fall, based on their size and ocean life history. Fish seen later in the year are generally larger, having spent more time in nutrient-rich ocean waters. These salmon are also classified as being wild or hatchery-spawned, an important distinction when there are enough numbers returning to spawn to allow a harvest season. Only hatchery fish may be kept, wild fish must be set free immediately.

Chinook Salmon Seasons
Chinook salmon seasons open only by order of the Idaho Fish and Game Commission. Those seasons depend on the number of fish returning to Idaho. A portion of the fish are wild fish listed under the Endangered Species Act and must be left in the rivers. Other Chinook are hatchery fish, and some are needed at hatcheries in Idaho for broodstock for the next generation of catchable hatchery salmon. The salmon fishery is based on the number of hatchery raised fish returning beyond the needs of the hatcheries, and that number would be split with tribal anglers.