Salmon Seasons to open soon

Several Chinook salmon seasons will open in time for the Fourth of July holiday on parts of the Salmon and South Fork Salmon rivers, the Idaho Fish and Game Department announced in a news release.

A season in a section of the lower Salmon River upstream of Shorts Bar opens Saturday, June 18; seasons on the South Fork Salmon and a section of the upper Salmon rivers open June 25; and a new stretch of water near the town of Salmon opens July 2.

In addition, a jacks-only season opens from July 9 to 17 in a short reach near Stanley.

The Vinegar Creek section area of the lower salmon River will open June 18, providing anglers some opportunity to harvest hatchery Chinook salmon destined for the South Fork Salmon River.

The season opens June 18 until further notice on:

Lower Salmon, Vinegar Creek – From posted boundary at the mouth of Shorts' Creek upstream to the uppermost boat ramp at Vinegar Creek.

Adult hatchery salmon bound for the South Fork Salmon River and the Pahsimeroi hatchery in the upper Salmon River basin a little later getting started, but the forecast is for sufficient returns to support sport fishing seasons.

The seasons open June 25  until further notice on:

South Fork Salmon, lower – From the bridge on Forest Service Road (Lick Creek/East Fork South Fork Road) where it crosses the mainstem South Fork Salmon River just upstream of the confluence with the East Fork South Fork Salmon River, upstream about 16 river miles to a posted boundary about one mile upstream from Fourmile Campground (about two miles downstream from Poverty Flat Campground). South Fork Salmon, upper – From a posted boundary about one mile upstream from Fourmile Campground (about two miles downstream from Poverty Flat Campground) upstream about 17 river miles to a posted boundary about 100 yards downstream from the Idaho Fish and Game South Fork Salmon River weir and trap. Salmon River, Section 17, Ellis Area – From the cable car crossing at the USGS flow gauging station, about 150 yards downstream of Island Park in Salmon, upstream to the posted boundary about 20 yards above the mouth of the Pahsimeroi River in Ellis.

Alternatives to Middle Fork - One Day Runs and Hikes - Mountain Buzz

The Lochsa River is your best bet. There's a great continuous big water class IV section that's about 25 miles interspersed with class II, and a lower III-IV section of pool drop rapids for 8 miles. Easily accessible from Wilderness Gateway Campground. We've done this in the past when the Middle Fork is inaccessible. Everything is road side.... beautiful temperate, inland rainforest. The Salmon River originates in the Sawtooth and Lemhi valleys of central and eastern Idaho. Springs and snowmelt from the Sawtooth and Salmon River mountains feed this wild river. The Salmon River flows undammed for its 425-mile length and drains about 14,000 square miles all within the borders of Idaho. It is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. From elevations above 8,000 feet, the Salmon cascades to an elevation of 905 feet before it joins the Snake River in Hells Canyon, near the Idaho/Oregon border. The Salmon River is historically known as The River of No Return. For more than 105 years after the first Euro Americans came to the area, only one-way trips down the river were possible. Initially, the most commonly used boats were wooden scows, designed to carry heavy loads and withstand whitewater. They were then dismantled and used for lumber at the trips conclusion. It was from these trips that the nickname, River of No Return originated. In the 151 miles from North Fork to Riggins, the Salmon River drops a total of 1,910 feet over 12 feet per mile. Peak flows occur from the middle of May to early July. The River is at its lowest in January and February, but highs and lows are subject to seasonal changes. Historically, wooden rafts, swimming, cable crossings, bridges or ferries were the only ways to cross the River of No Return. Today, there are pack bridges at Stoddard trailhead, Campbells Ferry, Mackay Bar and Wind River. All boaters floating the Wild section of the Wild and Scenic Salmon River are required to obtain a trip permit before launching at any time of the year. The section of river covered by this system extends from Corn Creek to Long Tom Bar. Boaters floating the South Fork Salmon River and exiting onto the Wild Section of the Main Salmon must obtain a tributary permit before floating. South Fork floaters will need to contact the Krassel Ranger District for permit information at 208-634-0616. Boating permits are required year round.

Rafting the River of No Return Wilderness - The Middle Fork of the Salmon River

When you are done reading the story you will probably get the itch to raft the Middle Fork too!

Backpacking Idaho

13 Middle Fork Salmon River RATINGS (1-10) MILES ELEVATION GAIN DAYS SHUTTLE MILEAGE Scenery Solitude Difficulty 67 4200 6-8 89 766 MAP USFS - Frank ...

Middle Fork of the Salmon River - A Comprehensive Guide

Water-supply paper

Salmon Creek near Oakridge, Oreg., 1913- North Fork of Middle Fork of Willamette River near Oakridge (Hazeltlell), Oreg., 1909-1912; 1913- Fall Creek near ...

Flyfisher's Guide to Idaho

North of the White Clouds in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage are the Big Horn Crags, another wilderness mountain range with many trout- filled ...