We are impatiently waiting for the first of the Chinook Salmon to arrive in Idaho and, based on the latest numbers, the Salmon River and Little Salmon River basins should see the Chinook arriving in the next three weeks.

Water level yesterday morning at the White Bird gauge was showing 25,800 CFS with a water temperature of 47 degrees. This week the weather is predicted to be perfect — daytime highs in the mid 70’s to low 80’s and sunshine all week!

Good news from the Fish Passage Center … as of May 6 Bonneville Dam has recorded 42,346 adult Chinook and 630 jack Chinook crossing. The biggest day so far at Bonneville was Sunday with over 6000 Chinook (both adult and jack) crossing. Lower Granite Dam reports that 518 adult Chinook and 10 jacks have crossed; their biggest day so far was also Sunday with almost 200 fish crossing.

Exodus Wilderness Adventures will offer a full day guided Chinook fishing trip by drift boat or jet boat at the rate of $205.00 per person. This trip includes lunch, snacks, hot/cold beverages and all fishing equipment. All trips will meet in our Riggins office at 5:00am and will typically return by 2:30pm; times are Mountain Time. Chinook Salmon regulations limit outfitters to fishing only six clients per day and all fishing is limited to the section of river from the Riggins City Park Boat Ramp down river to approximately 200 yards below the Hammer Creek Boat Ramp. The decision to open a season in the upriver section of the Salmon River between Vinegar Creek and Spring Bar (for power boats) or Island Bar (for drift boats) has not been made at this time.

The 2012 Chinook Salmon Season on the Clearwater, Snake, Lower Salmon and Little Salmon Rivers opened on April 22 and will close when the harvest quota is met. The daily limit is four fish; two adult (over 24”) and two jack (less than 24”); THE EXCEPTION:  The North Fork of the Clearwater River will only be allowed one adult.

To learn more about seasons, fly or spin fishing, and drift or jet boat trips: call us at 1-800-992-3484, email us at riverescape@frontier.com, or visit us online today.

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