Will salmon season happen on Upper Salmon?

[SalmonRiverID]

We've heard a lot of scuttlebutt about how the lack of PIT tags coming across Lower Granite is going to eliminate a salmon season on the Upper Salmon. What have you heard? What's the latest? Rumors are flying from Stanley on down. You can read what we know think we know here:

http://www.salmonriveridaho.net/2012/05/...prise.html
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[phutch30]

My gut says I wouldnt count on it. It isnt looking good for a SF season either
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[tob04002]

Everybody I've talked to has said there will be no salmon season on the upper salmon. I'm pretty disappointed for sure.
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[SalmonRiverID]

Sure sounds like a steady drum beat of negative news. When will we know one way or the other? I've heard June 11. What have you heard as to when they say "yea" or "nay" on a season? THX, jp
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[osprey02]

All sections of the Clearwater River will remain open to spring chinook fishing at least one more week.
Joe DuPont, regional fisheries manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Lewiston, said higher than expected survival of chinook between Bonneville and McNary dams on the Columbia River has boosted the state's harvestable share of the run. Last week DuPont calculated sport anglers would be able to catch and keep about 4,700 chinook. Based on new migration survival numbers, he says the harvest share is likely to be about 5,400.
That means fishing can continue on all open areas of the Clearwater River and its tributaries. The section between Lewiston and Cherrylane was in danger of closing last week when the harvest share was smaller.
The state and Nez Perce Tribe evenly split the number of returning hatchery chinook not needed for spawning at regional hatcheries. The state further tries to manages its fishery so sport harvest is shared up and down the river system.
Before the season began, DuPont said anglers fishing from Lewiston to Cherrylane would be allowed to catch about 25 percent of the run. At the start of last week, anglers fishing that section had caught about 17 percent of the run and were expected to catch the rest of it by Sunday.
They caught 224 adults in that section last week but still have only reached 18.7 percent of the target. No other sections of the Clearwater appear to be in danger of reaching their quota this week.
[#bf0000]The harvest share on the Salmon River fell based on the newest numbers. DuPont said hatchery chinook bound for the Rapid River Hatchery did not survive the fisheries on the Columbia River as well as the Clearwater Fish. The rapid river fish return earlier and passed through the Columbia when more harvest was occurring. None of the sections of the Lower Salmon River are in danger of reaching their quota this week.The Salmon River has blown out from recent rain and that will likely slow the harvest there[/#bf0000].

[url "http://lmtribune.com/blogs/scrawl_of_the_wild/article_2605900a-af43-11e1-9e2e-0019bb30f31a.html"]http://lmtribune.com/blogs/scrawl_of_the_wild/article_2605900a-af43-11e1-9e2e-0019bb30f31a.html[/url]
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[fishingrocket]

SRID,

I just telephoned the F & G (Thursday morning June 7) and they would not commit but it sounded like a ruling would be made by next Monday. They also said it was likely that they would post something on their web site tomorrow so keep your fingers crossed and keep checking. My own research showed that the summer run chinook that go to the Pahsimeroi and SF hatcheries (or weirs as the case is on the SF) are simply late like the others and peaks are coming through Bonneville now.

FR
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[phutch30]

Hatchery Pitt tags over Bonn dam todate

144 South Fork Salmon
5 Johnson Creek

Upper Salmon
6 Pahsimeroi
35 Sawtooth
7 Yankee fork salmon


There may be a SF season, but Im guessing those pitt tags represent around 2000-2500 fish. 1/2 goes to tribal then subtract broodstock requirements and other mortality between there and the home waters. Leaving not many fish for a recreational fishery. IF we have one I think it will be a real short one.

I dont think the upper salmon's looking too hot. . It would be nice to have one though since its only 2 hours away. Pahsimerio will need to really pick up quick. Figure a month of travel from Bonn to Pahsimeroi area

vs

2011

SF 133
Johnscr 2

upper salmon
41 pahsim
29 sawtooth
2 yankfork
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[Huntsman]

We need to do more than sit and wait...

Below is a list of email addresses that you need to contact. It's rediculous that the lower Columbia River fishery pounds our fish, the middle C pounds our fish, the lower Snake pounds our fish, the lower Salmon pounds our fish...and if ther3e's anything left over, we might get a season!!! Voice your displeasure! If we don't yell at them then there's no reason to change...

Commissioners -
Tony McDermott [url "mailto:mcmule@msn.com"]mcmule@msn.com[/url]

Fred Trevey ftrevey@idfg.idaho.gov

Bob Barowsky [url "mailto:bbarowsky@fmtc.com"]bbarowsky@fmtc.com[/url]

Wayne Wright [url "mailto:2wrights@cableone.net"]2wrights@cableone.net[/url]

Randy Budge [url "mailto:rcb@racinelaw.net"]rcb@racinelaw.net[/url]

Kenny Anderson [url "mailto:kented100@gmail.com"]kented100@gmail.com[/url]

Gary Power [url "mailto:gpower@centurytel.net"]gpower@centurytel.net[/url]

Other "powers that be"...

pete.hassemer@idfg.idaho.gov, ed.schriever@idfg.idaho.gov, mcmule@msn.com, fred.trevey@idfg.idaho.gov, bbarowsky@fmtc.com, 2wrights@cableone.net, rcb@racinelaw.net, kented100@gmail.com, gpower@centurytel.net
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[hammerindown]

I have read a lot on this forum in the last year. I have just now decided to register as a user. I personally wrote an email to every one of those people on that list. I would love to see a one fish limit. We all know we are into fishing for sport more than the meat. The meat is just a perk. The fact that the salmon seasons on any other part of the Salmon River that isn't already open are in jeopardy doesn't sit well with me. I hope they listen.
I will be posting more in the future.
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[curt69]

Welcome aboard . Hope to here more from you . Curt G.
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[hammerindown]

Will there likely be a season on the SF of the Salmon?
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[SalmonRiverID]

South Fork Seaon is part of the same agenda item. Go to

http://www.salmonriveridaho.net/2012/06/...ne-23.html

Click the link for the full document--it describes what sure looks like a South Fork season.
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[Huntsman]

Welcome Hammerindown....

We can use all the help we can gather. I'm sure I'm not the only one that's frustrated when every downstream fishery gets to play, but the upper Salmon River folks get stuck on that hind "feeding spout"...

It cracks me up (other wise known as TICKS ME OFF), in regards to the "expert" scientific-wild-a#* guess (SWAG) when it comes to "pre-season" forecasts. I can remember my Dad touting the same frustrations back in the 60's and 70's when Idaho's sports fishermen had to take the back seat to downstream interests then too. I'm beginning to believe that F&G hold their scoping meetings, predict their SWAG numbers, and then do their happy-dance, as we all run out and spend our $$$ for a salmon permit.

"Oops, sorry....we were a little off on our pre-season preDICTions, but we sure do appreciate you sportsmen buying those salmon permits...."

How refreshing it would be if IDF&G, and Idaho's seat on the Compact would actually stand up for us when it comes to setting downstream seasons....
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[fishingrocket]

Thanks phutch30.

Looks like I was a little off as far as the 2012 Pahsimeroi return. My research looks sound for the SF (of the Salmon River) and Sawtooth. I agree with most of what has been said here. We shouldn't be punished with "no season" for the sins of the downstream regulators. Catch and release would beat the crap out of that. On the other hand, there is a huge difference if we could keep even one hatchery fish per season so that we can put one on the wall if lightening strikes.

FR
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[phutch30]

I should have clarified that the 2000-2500 fish in the SF would be our 1/2 after broodstock needs not total run size.
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