The Steelhead Angler

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