South Fork of the Salmon will not open for Chinook fishing

June 20, 2017

By Roger Phillips IDFG Public Information Specialist A poor return to the South Fork of the Salmon River means anglers will miss a year of Chinook fishing on the popular river, but anglers can still get a crack at the fish starting Thursday, June 22, on the Lochsa and upper Salmon River upstream of Challis. Here are the boundary details in the season and rules. When fisheries managers set the summer seasons earlier this month, fish were later-than-usual crossing Bonneville Dam on the Columbia, but at the time, it appeared there would be enough fish to support a modest season on the South Fork of the Salmon River. Unfortunately, not enough fish have returned for sport harvest. "The front end of the run appeared to be near the forecast, but midway through the run, the bottom fell out," anadromous fish and hatcheries coordinator Sam Sharr said. Salmon fishing will also continue on a short section of the lower Salmon River and Little Salmon River until further notice.