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Chinook salmon fishing will remain open at least through the weekend on the South Fork Salmon River.

Idaho Fish and Game fish managers say there are enough of the state’s share of hatchery-origin Chinook salmon coming up the South Fork to keep the fishery open through Monday, July 14. They will reevaluate the run size and harvest numbers Monday morning and expect to manage the fishery on a day-to-day basis after that, with closure notice as short as 24 hours.

South Fork Salmon River is open from the bridge on Forest Service Road 48 - Lick Creek/East Fork South Fork Road - where it crosses the South Fork Salmon River mainstem, just upstream from the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, upstream about 33 river miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap, open until further notice.

Limits for adult Chinook salmon on the South Fork Salmon River are two per day and six in possession. The statewide salmon limit is 40 per season. Anglers may keep two jacks per day and have six in possession, but they are not required to record the jacks on a salmon permit.

When the adult limit is reached, the angler must stop fishing for salmon, including catch and-release.

Fishing hours are from one half hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, local time. Anglers may use only barbless hooks no larger than five-eighths inch from the point to the shank. A single hook may have up to three points.

Anglers must have a valid fishing license and salmon permit in possession to fish for salmon. Please consult the 2008-2009 Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure, the Fish and Game Website http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish or a Fish and Game office for additional rules, license costs and other information.

Chinook salmon fishing also remains open on the Upper Salmon River from the Highway 75 Bridge over the mainstem of the Salmon River at milepost 213.5 (about nine miles west of Clayton) upstream to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley, until further notice or August 2, whichever comes first.

Chinook limits and rules are the same as on the South Fork.

This information comes from Idaho Fish and Games web Site

Steelhead Gear.Com

Though salmon fishing closed July 1 on several river segments here in Idaho, two rivers are open over the Fourth of July weekend, giving salmon anglers a combined 63 miles of river open to salmon fishing.
For the first time in over 30 years, salmon anglers will be able to again fish almost 30 miles of the Upper Salmon River. This stretch of river has not been open to recreational salmon fishing since the late 1970’s.

The Upper Salmon River section open for salmon fishing runs from the Highway 75 Bridge over the Salmon River at milepost 213.5 (about nine miles west of Clayton) upstream to the posted boundary about 100 yards downstream of the weir at Sawtooth Hatchery south of Stanley. While the salmon have just started to arrive at this section I have heard of a few fish caught and things should be picking up over the coming week. This section will remain open until further notice or August 2, whichever comes first.

Another section that opened this year is 25 miles of the South Fork Salmon River that has not been open to recreational salmon fishing for 43 years. In addition, the eight miles that have been open for recreational salmon fishing during open seasons since 1997 are again open. This year you will now have 33 miles of river to find a salmon fishing hole in.

The section of the South Fork Salmon River opened for salmon fishing starts at the bridge on Forest Service Road 48 where it crosses the South Fork Salmon River. This is just upstream from the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River. You can then follow the road along the South Fork upstream about 33 river miles. There is a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap. The fishing reports that I have received are good as the fish arrived late last week and salmon anglers are starting to have very good success on this section. This section of river remains open until further notice.

As I mentioned yesterday that with the rivers running high and muddy salmon fishing is very tough. I also mentioned that you may want to try and do some plunking for salmon with these conditions. I received several emails asking just how you would set up to do some plunking for salmon. This technique has been around for years and I thought that every one knew what I was talking about for those of you who didn’t let me explain a little about it.

Plunking is used a lot while fishing for catfish, sturgeon and such, and is basically setting up a rig that you throw out into the river channel with a heavy enough wait to hold it in the current. The Idea behind this is that with the bait located in one spot and the scent come from the bait fish will be able to locate it and take your offering. Unlike drift fishing where your bait is always moving plunking hold your bait in one spot and allows the fish to go to the bait instead of the bait going to the fish.

Below is an example of a plunking set-up you can vary just how you tie these, use different lures and bait combinations but it should give you the general idea.

One thing to keep in mind when fishing in muddy water is you want to use scents, sound and vibrations to attract the salmon. Tuna fish which has been pack in oil and anchovies are some of the more common baits used. Some fisherman will mix tuna and roe in an egg sack we’ve been calling this a salmon cocktail just so we know what each of us are using for bait if some one is getting more hits then every one else it’s nice to know what they are using.

Try to find a spot with slow moving current throw one of these rigs out and sit back and relax while keeping and eye on your rod. Don’t worry about what a bite will look like trust me you will know when a salmon takes this. Good luck and give it a try, it works and under the current river conditions it is probably your best bet on hooking into a nice fresh Chinook salmon.

RR Smith

Salmon Fishing Gear

Just when I thought the Little Salmon River was going to come in we started to receive some rain and the river has blown out again. I did make a trip down to the river Tuesday and hooked into a fish but I fished al day and it was the only hit that I got.

The river is as high as I’ve seen it in years and the one fish I did hooked got out in the current and if you have ever fished for Chinook salmon you know what happened next.

Yep it was like trying to stop a D-8 cat from running down a frozen cliff you hold on and hope for a miracle. Even with 40lb test line I was unable to even slow it down let alone turn him. In about thirty seconds he had striped off most of my line and was headed back to the Ocean. It was exciting but the battle if you want to call holding on for everything you got a battle, did not last long and I had to admit defeat before I even got started.

With the river running as high and fast as it is fishing is really tough you use three ounces of weight to even touch the bottom and your line drifts through the hole in about ten seconds. Most of your day will be spent casting that is when you are not tying up a new rig because when you do hit bottom with that much weight it usually finds a way to crawl under some rock and you end up leaving your rig to the river gods. Yet even with conditions the way they are I can’t wait to get back on the river after all it is Chinook salmon season.

If you do not like spending your day casting and tying rigs you may want to hold off for a week or two before you head down. There is however always plunking if you don’t want to fight the current river condition. I have had some pretty good luck with this technique of fishing over the years.

For those of you that are not familiar with plunking it is setting up with a heavy weight as a drop sinker and using a spin and glow with eggs or a similar lure casting it out in a deep pool and then you just sit and wait for the fish to find it. When condition are like the are this is a very good technique plus while your waiting for a fish you have time to relax and tell some fishing stories with you buddies.

Well I’ll keep watching the river and let you know as things develop but for right now fishing is tough.

RR Smith

Steelhead, Salmon and Trout Fishing Gear

Chinook salmon fishing continues to be a very popular sport fishery even as salmon numbers drop. The fisheries managers continue to monitor salmon runs and returns to allow the sportsman every opportunity possible to fish for these magnificent fish. Fishing techniques are adjusted to avoid species whose populations are at risk such as the native or natural runs and focus on those which can sustain large-scale fishing those that have been raised and released from hatcheries. Where that is impossible, the native fish are released unharmed, allowing these endangered species to continue with their natural spawning cycles. The hatchery fish can be identified by a missing adipose fine which is clipped before their release from the hatcheries.

This year is no exception it appears that the anticipated returns are going to be down from what was supposed to have been one of the better runs in years to a run which will be capable of providing some limited fishing. As the managers monitor return numbers they are adjusting the fishing seasons and take limits and even in some cases they have closed salmon season down for the year.

Did you know that Pacific Northwest Salmon is a rich source of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fat called Omega-3 fatty acids or basically good fats? Omega-3s are found mainly in fat rich fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines.

Wild fisheries could never meet the global demand for salmon especially when you consider their dwindling habitat and in my opinion having the hatcheries is one of the best moves mangers have made to keep a fishable run. While we would all love to see the native fish flourish with politics and economical factors influencing decisions regarding their survival and habitat the natural runs continue their decline.

Fishing must be carefully managed so that salmon continue to be a harvestable resource.

RR Smith

There appears to be even more good news for salmon fishermen here in Idaho. Along with the Chinook salmon return numbers showing a vast improvement over the last several years the number of jacks that are returning to Idaho are also u; this is good news for two reasons. 

1. Having a good number of jack salmon return is a good sign that the numbers of  adult chinook salmon that will return the following year will also be good
2. This year anglers will be able to keep two jack salmon a day without them having to be counted against your season limit of 40 salmon. And the size of the jack salmon has been increased from a fish measuring less then 20″ to one which measures less then 24″. 

The weather and river flows has been playing a large role in the amount of Salmon crossing Bonneville dam during the last week one day the numbers are over 9,00 and the next day they may be down to 2,500 only to bounce back up the next day. I guess as long as the numbers stay up we can keep smiling though. 

So far I do not believe the total numbers are as good as every one was hoping but we need to remember that the run started three weeks later then normal too. 

I will continue to watch the numbers over the next several weeks and keep you informed so far thing are looking good for the Idaho salmon angler though and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this will continue.

By: RR Smith
Salmon Steeelhead And Trout

Once again Idaho Salmon are facing another man made obstacle on their migration back home. Bonneville Dam is seeing large numbers of Sea Lions and California Seals again that are feasting on our Salmon runs. While state and federal agencies have been monitoring this situation for years and have decided that they need to take action the Humane Society of the United States has step in and are trying to prevent their efforts.Look at some of this information posted on the Free Republic Website

*”Salmon and sea lions are protected species. But California sea lion numbers are booming, while many northwest salmon species are struggling. The sea lion population, about 1,000 animals in the 1930s, now numbers about 238,000 along the West Coast. Biologists think the animals have maxed out available breeding sites and habitat.

The number that could be killed under the initial federal proposal is about one one-hundredth of the number that biologists estimate could be removed without undermining the overall population.
Anglers and biologists have grown increasingly frustrated with sea lions that swim up the Columbia to Bonneville Dam, where they feast on salmon gathering to climb fish ladders upriver. Last year, monitoring crews counted sea lions eating more than 4 percent of the salmon run, although biologists suspect they probably ate more.

Hudson said state and tribal biologists estimate sea lions may consume 13 percent to 17 percent of spring Chinook salmon passing through the dam.”

* http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1987633/posts

Now I do not know about you but I’m tired of my tax money being used to feed a predator that by all accounts have over populated their natural environment and are now seeking to find an easy meal on the very same fish that we as sportsmen, tax payers, and even as consumers have been trying to protect and improve their numbers so that we can continue to enjoy fishing for these magnificent fish.

Have you heard the answer to the problem from the Humane Society of the United States as stated by spokes woman Sharon Young “agencies should look to cut back fishing before looking at sea lions”

I’m all for protecting wildlife and I believe that I do my part I keep very few of the fish I catch and most of the time I catch a release my fish just to insure that the will be there tomorrow and for the next generation to enjoy as I have. But when you see articles like this it makes you wonder way we spend billions of dollars ever year on salmon recovery programs have numerous agencies work for their recovery and then when they decide it is time to take a corrective action we do not allow them to do anything. They do not want to eliminate the seal population only take a control measure and reduce their numbers. I say load the seals up in a box and ship them to Sharon Young and the Humane Society of the United States and tell them that their seals are in our rivers and they need to do something with them.

By: RR Smith

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While I’m sitting here today thinking about the Chinook salmon season that is suppose to be one of the best in years, I find myself thinking back to my youth. It was back in the early 1970’s when after talking with my best friend Randy that I discovered he had never fished for salmon before. I found this odd as are love of fishing had taken us on many different and exciting adventures while chasing fish every time we had a chance to take off and go. Yet I never mentioned any thing about steelhead or salmon fishing and we had never been salmon fishing together how we could have missed doing this together before now was something that I could never really under stand since this is my favorite type of fishing.Oh well back to the main thought I was having. When I talked to Randy about this he got very excited about going so we planed a trip for the following weekend and since our work schedules had us both off at the same time it would work out perfectly. Little did I know how perfect this trip would turn out at the time?

The rest of the work week seemed to drag on as time normally does when you have something that you are looking forward to doing, but soon it was Friday after noon and we both had gotten off work late adding to the excitement to get going. But finally we were on our way to meet up with my folks who had left earlier in the day to setup camp down at Riggins Idaho along the Little Salmon River where we would be fishing.

On our trip down Randy was full of questions like how hard does a salmon hit, what size hook do you use, are these fish hard to land, what should he use for bait. On and on this went he was really getting worked up about this. I told him that salmon fishing once you learn the basics and where the fish might be laying is really like any other type of fishing the big difference is the battle these fish give you once you hook into one. I told him that he should not plan on being able to land every fish he hooks into, as the power of these fish is unmatched by anything he had fished for before. He told me that he had heard they did fight hard and that you needed heavy line he had purchased some 60 lb. test line and asked if he needed anything heaver. I assured him that the line he had was way more then he would need and that I just used 25 lb test and that was more then enough to handle them as long as you let them play out before you try to force the issue with them.

We arrived at camp late but the folks had kept dinner for us so we ate and sat around for awhile telling stories to the folks about some of our adventures many of which that got me a look from my dad that only a dad can give; you all know the look I’m sure, (the one that says what the heck were you thinking)? It gets late and we decide to turn in, now being a young teenager at the time the excitement of the day to come makes the night seem like it will never end. I remember Randy waking up numerous time through out the night and having a flash light click on and off again after awhile the light would click and randy would say are you awake is my watch working is it really only 1:00 am. or has my watch stopped. This continued for most of the night and I began to wonder if maybe I made this salmon fishing out to be more then it was, (No there’s no way I could do that it is all what I said and probably more).

Finally 4:30 arrives and we crawl out of or sleeping bags and start getting ready to walk up to this hole I had found a few weeks earlier. All week long I had told Randy that this hole has produce a Salmon on the first cast every time I had been their and that it was well worth the walk to get there and in the pre-dawn light we set out to get to the hole before some one else. Back in the seventies we didn’t have the crowds we do today and you cold still get in a hole first if you left at early dawn. Any way I give Randy some last minute pointers on the way to the hole and we arrive to find that we were indeed the first ones to arrive. Standing above the hole I point out where he needs to cast and what he should expect when a salmon hits. We bait up and start down to the hole. Now until you have been around Randy for awhile and know him a little bit it is hard to explain what happens next but I’ll do my best to explain this.

Keeping in mind Randy has equipped his reel with 60 lb test line, the following takes place. Since Randy has never taken a Salmon before I decide that I will get him started before I start to fish. There is a lot of brush along the river bank so I tell Randy to strip off a little line and just flip it out along the seam of the current and be ready for the explosion as the salmon takes his hook. I remind him that I have caught a Salmon here on the first cast every time I have fished here. Randy decides to move down just a few steps before he cast and when he goes to move down he stumbles on the slick rocks that are covered in the morning’s dew. While trying to catch his balance his line that he striped out dips into the water as he falls back on his butt and at the same time he is falling back he jerks the pole back over his head trying to catch his balance. As I’m watching this his line comes back out of the water and here comes a 14 lb spring Chinook salmon that some how had managed to get a hold of his hook the motion of Randy falling back literally jerks this salmon strait out of the river and onto the bank now Randy and this Salmon are both flopping around on the bank as Randy somehow manages to get a hold of the salmon before it gets back into the river. Once Randy get a hold on the fish and his feet back under him he looks at me and says your right this hole does produce a salmon with the first cast. Well that is how Randy got his first salmon we still fish together to this day as hard as this is to believe it actually happen just like I said you should have been there. Randy Still has the same type of luck I know he could truly catch fish in a mud puddle.

By: RR Smith
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We have been waiting to see what kind of Salmon season to expect here in Idaho this year and early prediction seem promising and the Idaho fish and game has expanded on some of the rule and fishing areas. Take a look at just what they have in store for us this year it is looking good.

The Following information was taken from the Idaho Fish and Game Website at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=4350  If their predictions hold true we should have a great salmon season here in Idaho the Spring and early Summer. I highlight some exciting changes in Red that are new this year.

 ***   IDAHO FISH AND GAME
HEADQUARTERS NEWS RELEASE
Boise, ID

Fish And Game Commissioners

Set Spring Salmon Seasons

 Idaho Fish and Game Commissioners, Wednesday, April 16, set spring Chinook salmon seasons, beginning Saturday April 26.

The season opens a half hour before sunrise on April 26 on parts of the Snake, Clearwater, Salmon and Little Salmon rivers. It opens on May 24 on the Lochsa River.

Commissioners are expected to consider seasons on the South Fork Salmon River and the upper Salmon River in May.

Chinook fishing will be open on the Snake River from the Dug Bar boat ramp upstream to Hells Canyon Dam; on mainstem Clearwater River from the Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge at Lewiston upstream to the South Fork Clearwater River; on the North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to Dworshak Dam; on the South Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of American and Red rivers; and on the Middle Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to the confluence of the Lochsa and Selway rivers.

The Lochsa River will open, starting May 24, from its mouth upstream to the Twin Bridges immediately upstream from the confluence of Crooked Fork and Colt Killed Creek.

These segments will be open until July 20 or further notice, whichever comes first.

The Lower Salmon River will be open from the Hammer Creek boat ramp upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of Short’s Creek - about 1.4 miles upstream of the mouth of the Little Salmon River - until June 22 or until further notice.

The Little Salmon River will be open from a posted boundary at its mouth upstream to U. S. Highway 95 Bridge near Smokey Boulder Road will be open until August 3 or further notice.

Fishing hours are from one half hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, local time, seven days a week until the seasons close.

Limits in the Clearwater River drainage are two per day, six in possession. On the Snake, Lower Salmon, and Little Salmon Rivers limits are three per day, nine in possession. The statewide limit for adult Chinook is 40 for the season.

Only hatchery Chinook salmon with a clipped adipose fin - evidenced by a healed scar - may be kept. All Salmon with an intact adipose fin must be released immediately. Any salmon caught in a legal manner must be released or killed immediately after landing.

The rules have changed for jack Chinook salmon this year. A jack is any Chinook less than 24 inches long. Anglers may keep two adipose-fin-clipped jacks per day and have six in possession in addition to the adult Chinook daily and possession limits. But they don’t have to record the jacks on their permit.

When the adult possession limit is reached, the angler must stop all fishing for salmon, including catch and-release and for jacks.

Anglers may use only barbless hooks no larger than 5/8 inch from the point to the shank. It is unlawful to take or fish for salmon by snagging. In the Lochsa River, salmon may only be taken with artificial flies and lures with one barbless hook per fly or lure - no bait. A single hook may have up to three points.

Anglers must have a valid fishing license and salmon permit in possession to fish for salmon, except on Free Fishing Day, June 7. Any nonresident 14 and older must buy a nonresident season fishing license and salmon permit, a nonresident junior fishing license and salmon permit, or a three-day salmon license.

Please consult the 2008-2009 Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure for additional rules, license costs and other information.

Locations common to Chinook salmon fisheries include:

• Dug Bar boat ramp, Snake River: Dug Bar boat ramp is about six miles upstream of the mouth of the Imnaha River, a tributary on the Oregon side of the Snake River about 52 miles upstream of Lewiston, Idaho.
• Hammer Creek boat ramp, Lower Salmon River: Hammer Creek boat ramp is about 34 miles downstream of Riggins and one mile downstream of Whitebird Creek.
• Smokey Boulder Bridge, Little Salmon River: The Smokey Boulder Bridge is a Highway 95 bridge which crosses the Little Salmon River about 24 miles upstream of Riggins and about five miles upstream of Hazard Creek.
• Railroad Bridge, Clearwater River: The Camas Prairie Railroad Bridge crosses the Clearwater River about one half mile upstream of its confluence with the Snake River and about 1 1/4 miles downstream of the U.S. Highway 12 Memorial Bridge, which crosses the Clearwater River near Lewiston.
• Time Zone Bridge: The Time Zone Bridge is on U.S. Highway 95 and crosses the Salmon River about one mile north of Riggins.
• Short’s Creek: Enters on the south shore of the Salmon River at the upstream end of Short’s Bar about 1.4 miles upstream of the confluence of the Salmon and the Little Salmon rivers.

Waters not specifically designated remain closed to fishing for Chinook salmon.

View the 2008 Chinook Salmon Seasons and Rules here: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/rules/chinook_seasons/  ***

It looks like it is time to stock up on our Salmon fishing supplies with an anticipated season like this and the high river flows we will more then like be experiencing we may very well need a full tackle box and plenty of fresh line. Let’s just hope that we are not disappointed as we were for the Run in 2005. So far the numbers are looking good I’ll try and keep you updated as the run develops.

By: RR Smith

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Today I must admit that I think the steelhead fishing on the Little Salmon River in Central Idaho for the most part was less then impressive as compared to previous years.

The River Flow has finally increased to near normal spring flows but the only thing that I noticed is an increase in the number of Steelhead Fishermen and no real increase in the number of Steelhead in the river.

Just what happened to the fish is some what of a mystery not only for the anglers but also for the fishery managers. Many of the other rivers around the state have seen good to great results the South Fork of the Clear water has seen some pretty impressive numbers or the last couple of weeks and the upper reaches of the Salmon River have been producing some nice results also. Where are the fish for the Little Salmon, no one really seems to know and since it is now past the middle of April, about all that is left for us to do is clean up our gear and put it away and wait until this fall in hopes of better numbers next year.

There were a few days this spring where I thought Steelhead fishing was going to pick up however the next trip was only full of disappointment. I do remember that several years back we had an early run off that brought up the river which was followed by a sudden drop in temperature which trapped a lot of the smolt in ponds and troughs when the river flows suddenly dropped and there was a large number of dead smolt in these spots. Maybe that is what is going on, we just lost too many of the smolt before they could even start their migration to the ocean. I’m not sure but it is just one explanation that I have thought of over the last couple of weeks while I was fishing and waiting for the main run to start.

Fisheries managers are expecting a good run of Salmon this spring and while I hade hopes that this would actually be the case the numbers over the last couple of days are becoming discouraging also. Right now we are just in a wait and see mode I will try to keep every one up dated as they dam counts come in so stay tuned. Remember that River flows will be much higher this year then we have seen in a number of years so be careful out there.

By: RR Smith
Looking to save on your next purchase of Steelhead Gear Please visit my Store at Steelhead Gear.Com I’m sure you will find some of the best prices available anywhere on the internet. http://www.steelhead-gear.com