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Spring Chinook

The Spring Chinook salmon is a gray-green on the back and top of the head with silvery sides and white ventral surfaces. It has black spots on its tail and the upper half of its body; its mouth is dark gray. Adult fish range in size from 33 to 38 inches, but may be up to 45 inches in length; Idaho Clearwater River Springers average 10 to 30 pounds.

The Spring Chinook Salmon begins its migration in April-May, remaining throughout summer and will spawn in the fall. The spawning grounds for these Spring Chinook Salmon are the tributaries of the Clearwater river, Salmon River, Imnaha Rivers in Idaho and Oregon. What makes these Salmon unique is the fact that the spawning grounds are located further upstream than any other salmon. Early Native Americans harvested 'Springers' as far inland as Idaho's Salmon River, 900 miles from the Pacific. The 'Springer' is far and away the most palatable Salmon in the North West. Spring Chinook Fishing techniques include Back-Trolling, Back-Bouncing and Bobber fishing.

Talk with our guides to get in the thick of the fish. You’ll be on your way to boating your limit and finding trophy size Spring Chinook!

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