Resident Fishing License .................. $ 23.50

Nonresident Fishing License

(Season) ............................................ $ 74.50

3-Day Salmon/Steelhead License

(includes a 3-Day Permit).................. $ 28.50

Salmon Permit (License Required) ... $ 11.50

Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Steven M. Huffaker, Director

P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707

Phone: (208) 334-3700

www2.state.id.us/fishgame

The following waters are open to fishing for chinook

salmon during the periods listed. Waters not specifically

designated below shall remain CLOSED to fishing for

chinook salmon unless opened by Commission action.

Lower Salmon River from the Hammer Creek boat ramp

upstream to a posted boundary at the mouth of the Little

Salmon River at Riggins.

SEASON: April 26 until further notice, or June 15,

whichever comes first.

Little Salmon River from a posted line at its mouth upstream to

the U.S. Highway 95 bridge near Lower Pollock Road.

SEASON: April 26 until further notice, or August 3,

whichever comes first.

Mainstem Clearwater River from the Railroad Bridge

upstream to the Orofino Bridge (excluding the perimeter of

Dworshak National Fish Hatchery at Ahsahka), and;

North Fork Clearwater River from its mouth upstream to

Dworshak Dam (excluding the perimeter of Dworshak

National Fish Hatchery at Ahsahka).

SEASON: April 12 until further notice, or July 6,

whichever comes first.

A. It shall be unlawful to fish in any waters while having

fish in possession which violate rules for those waters.

B. No person shall have in the field or in transit any chinook

salmon from which the head or tail has been removed

(Unless the fish has been commercially processed).

C. All fish that are hooked, landed and not immediately

released shall be counted in the limits of the person

hooking the fish.

D. Only hatchery chinook salmon with a clipped adipose

fin (as evidenced by a healed scar) may be kept. All

salmon with a non-clipped adipose fin must be

immediately released.

Hatchery salmon may be kept.

Adipose fin has been clipped.

Wild or hatchery salmon with

adipose fin MUSTbe released

immediately.

Daily and Possession Limits: 2 per day, 6 in possession.

No person shall take more than one daily bag limit in one

day. No person shall possess more than one possession limit

of salmon while in the field or being transported to the final

place of consumption or storage.

Season Limit: 10 per season for all waters combined.

A. It is unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8 inch

measured from the point of the hook to the shank.

B. Fishing prohibited after attainment of limits. Once an

angler has attained his bag, possession or season limit on

those waters open to salmon fishing, he must cease

fishing for salmon, including catch and-release fishing.

C. Chinook may be taken only with barbless hooks.

Bending the barb down to the shank of a single, double,

or treble hook will meet this requirement.

D. It is unlawful to take or attempt to take salmon by

snagging.

Fishing for chinook salmon is permitted only from ½ hour

before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset, local time.

IDFG adheres to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations related to

discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, gender, or

handicap. If you feel you have been discriminated against in any program, activity,

or facility of IDFG, or if you desire further information, please write to: Idaho

Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 25, Boise, ID 83707; or The Office of

Human Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior,

Washington, DC 20240.

Costs associated with this publication are available from IDFG

in accordance with section 60-202, Idaho Code. 4-03/30,000/31801

Hammer Creek boat ramp is located about 34 miles

downstream from Riggins and 1 mile downstream from

Whitebird Creek. Exit west off of Highway 95 at the

Hammer Creek boat ramp sign, which is about 1½ miles

south (upstream) of the town of Whitebird. Cross the

Salmon River and travel downstream (north) to the boat

ramp.

Lower Pollock Bridge, Little Salmon River: The Lower

Pollock Bridge is a Highway 95 bridge which crosses the

Little Salmon River, just north of the Sheep Creek rest area,

about 6 miles upstream (south) from Riggins and about 1

mile upstream (south) from Rapid River.

Railroad Bridge, Clearwater River: The Railroad Bridge

crosses the Clearwater River about ½ mile upstream from its

confluence with the Snake River and about 1¼ miles

downstream from the Memorial Bridge (Highway 12), which

crosses the Clearwater River in Lewiston.

Everyone, except those expressly exempt, must have a valid

fishing license and salmon permit in possession to fish for

salmon, except Free Fishing Day, June 7, 2003.

Any person, age 14 and older, who does not qualify as a

resident must purchase either a Nonresident Season Fishing

License and Salmon Permit, a Nonresident Junior Fishing

License and Salmon Permit, or a 3-Day Salmon License to

fish for salmon.

In order to qualify for resident status, a person must be

domiciled in the state for at least six months.

Children under the age of 14 (including nonresidents) are

exempt from purchasing salmon permits. They may fish

without permits if they are accompanied by a valid permit

holder, provided that any fish kept must be recorded on the

permit holders card and counted in the permit holders

legal bag and possession limit. Any resident child under 14

may purchase a permit so that he/she may catch his or her

own limit of salmon. Any nonresident child may purchase

either a Nonresident Junior Fishing License and Salmon

Permit or a 3-Day Salmon License to fish for salmon so

that he/she may catch his or her own limit of salmon.

Consult the 2002-2003 Fishing Seasons and Rules brochure

for other regulations relating to fishing, license costs and

other Department information.

Chinook Salmon: Adult anadromous (ocean run) salmon of

the species Oncorhynchus tshawytscha found in the Snake

River drainage below Hells Canyon Dam, the Salmon River

drainage and the Clearwater River drainage, excluding lakes and

the North Fork of the Clearwater River above Dworshak Dam.

Jack Salmon: Adult chinook salmon under 20 inches in

total length are commonly called jack salmon.

Permits: Any person fishing for or harvesting chinook

salmon must have a valid salmon permit in possession.

However, when a salmon is released unharmed, as in catch-and-

release fishing, the angler is not required to make an

entry on the permit.

Clearwater River, Railroad Bridge at

Lewiston upstream to Orofino Bridge 1 .................... 03

North Fork Clearwater River 1 ............................................. 05

The following acts are unlawful by statute or commission

rule. They are listed here for your information. Please

consult Title 36, Idaho Code, or the 2002-2003 Idaho

Fishing Seasons and Rules for exact wording and complete

listing.

To refuse to produce license or fish for inspection upon

request by a conservation officer.

To fail to stop and report at check stations that have

been established to inspect licenses and fish and game.

To put any substance not attached to a hook into the

water for the purpose of attracting fish (chumming).

To possess, transport or use as bait any live fish.

To catch any part of another persons bag limit,

EXCEPT in the case of license-exempt persons fishing

for salmon and steelhead.

To transport for another or accept as a gift any game

fish, unless a statement signed by taker accompanies the

fish, showing the number and kinds, the date taken, the

takers name, address and fishing license number.

To claim ownership to more wild game or fish taken

within the state of Idaho than allowed by established

possession limits.

To ship any fish by commercial carrier unless the outside

of the package is marked as to the number and kinds of

fish and the package contains a written statement

showing the takers name, address and fishing license

number.

To use seines, dip nets, spears, snag hooks, or any other

contrivances in taking any fish from the waters of the

state EXCEPT as allowed by Commission regulation.

To deposit chemicals, poisons or explosives in

attempting to catch or destroy fish.

To waste game fish.

To sell fish without a permit.

�To take or attempt to take a salmon by snagging, or to

keep a salmon that has been snagged. A salmon that is

snagged must be released immediately, unharmed back

into the water.

�To keep a salmon hooked in any part of its body other

than the mouth or jaw.

WARNING!

1 Clearwater River special restrictions:

Mainstem and North ForkFishing from the

shoreline along the perimeter of Dworshak National Fish

Hatchery is PROHIBITED.

North ForkFishing from any watercraft or wading is

PROHIBITED between a posted boundary

approximately 150 yards upstream from the mouth of

the North Fork Clearwater River to the Ahsahka

Highway Bridge. When fishing from the Ahsahka

Highway Bridge, it is unlawful to take or attempt to take

fish downstream of the railroad bridge.

Salmon in Idaho produce eager anglers and

crowding. You can help make your outing and

everyone elses more enjoyable by being courteous.

It is against Idaho law to leave fish entrails

and other debris such as fishing line, egg

sacks, packaging wrappers, cans and bottles,

cigarette butts, etc. along streambanks!

Anglers litter is the most frequently cited

reason landowners refuse access to some of

Idahos premium fishing locations. Please

carry a litter bag to dispose of trash properly.

Permit Validation: When a chinook salmon has been

hooked, landed and reduced to possession, the angler

hooking the fish must immediately:

A. Cut out and completely remove one numbered notch

from the permit; and

B. Look up the location code number from the list below

and write it in the space provided; and

C. Enter in the space provided, the month and day the fish