Upper Salmon River Chinook Fishery update: 7/15/25

RIVER CONDITIONS

Flows in the upper Salmon River continue to be below average, and as of today is flowing at 800 cfs at the gauge below the Yankee Fork which is about 62% of the long-term average. Given the low flows and high air temperatures, fishing has been best in the morning.

HATCHERY TRAPPING & RECYCLING

The Sawtooth Fish Hatchery has trapped 1,440 hatchery adult Chinook Salmon as of July 15th. Updated hatchery trapping numbers can be found on the IDFG Hatchery Returns webpage so make sure to bookmark that page if you want to stay up-to-date with the trapping totals.

Sawtooth Hatchery staff will recycle another batch of approximately 100 hatchery salmon back into the river later this week. We would expect the recycled fish to start making their way through the fishery area by the following day.

RULES

The 2025 USR salmon fishery is open from the posted boundary approximately 50 yards upstream of the Yankee Fork Salmon River upstream to the posted boundary approximately 100 yards downstream of the weir and trap at the Sawtooth Fish Hatchery. Fishing hours are from 5:30am to 10:00 pm MDT. The daily limit is four (4) hatchery Chinook salmon per day, only two (2) of which may be adults (over 24 inches). For the full season rules, please click here.

If you have questions, comments, or would like to be added to my email update list, please reach out to me at: greg.schoby@idfg.idaho.gov or at the Salmon Regional Office at (208) 756-2271.