The spring chinook salmon fishing season on the lower Salmon River near Riggins is now closed.
Fisheries managers at the Idaho Department of Fish and Game closed the last remaining section of the river to protect spring chinook bound for hatcheries in the upper Salmon River.
Officials say returns to the upper Salmon River are down this year and the hatcheries may not meet spawning goals. And because those fish could be caught in the section of river between the Time Zone Bridge and the mouth of Shorts Creek, the agency opted to close it.
The nearby Little Salmon River remains open, as does the Clearwater River upstream of Orofino and its north, south and middle forks. The Lochsa River opens for summer chinook fishing today (Thur).
