Idaho Unveils Chinook Fishing Season Proposals

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Idaho Fish and Game will be posting new season proposals for upcoming spring and summer Chinook salmon fisheries on February 11, and is gathering public feedback on the proposals from February 11 to February 22. After reviewing angler comments and agency goals, the final season proposals will be presented to the commission at a meeting in Boise on March 25.

Why it matters

Chinook salmon are an important recreational and commercial fishery in Idaho, and public input helps ensure the fisheries are managed in a way that satisfies anglers. The upcoming season proposals will be based on run forecasts, which can be adjusted as actual run sizes become clearer through fish counts at dams.

The details

Fisheries managers typically propose Chinook seasons based on run forecasts, then adjust them as they get a better understanding of actual run sizes from fish counts at the Columbia and Snake river dams. The public comment period will include four regional meetings during the third week of February where Idaho Fish and Game biologists will discuss insights from previous seasons, this year's projected salmon return, and potential management strategies.

• The public comment period will run from February 11 to February 22.
• The season proposals will be presented to the commission at a meeting in Boise on March 25.

What’s next

After the public comment period, the final season proposals will be presented to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission at their meeting in Boise on March 25.