Montana Fish Report

The upper Snake River will open to hatchery fall Chinook fishing on Friday, Sept. 1.

The river will be open from the Oregon – Washington border to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam and will remain open until Oct. 31, or until a closure is announced. In addition, the reach from Cliff Mountain Rapid (at river mile 246.7) upstream to the deadline at Hells Canyon Dam will be open from Nov. 1-17.

The daily bag limit will be six adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon. Anglers can also keep an unlimited number of fin-clipped jack Chinook. Chinook jacks are salmon between 15 and 24-inches long.

Fishery managers are expecting a run of 27,000 adult fall Chinook salmon, including 8,000 wild fish, to return to the Snake River above Lower Granite Dam this year. “Like spring Chinook and steelhead, returns of fall Chinook salmon are down compared to recent years,” said Jeff Yanke, ODFW District Fish Biologist in Enterprise. “But we still have plenty of fish available for harvest, and we encourage anglers to take advantage.”

Only barbless hooks may be used on this stretch of the Snake River, and anglers should consult the 2017 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for other rules that may apply.