Friday may mark the final opportunity this season to fish for spring chinook salmon in Washington on the Lower Snake River.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the closure of the only fishing opener on the Snake at the end of fishing Friday night. Springer fishing is permitted only on the Snake in Washington below Little Goose Dam, south of LaCrosse. This brief season began last week, allowing fishing only on Tuesdays and Fridays. WDFW officials stated that the closure is necessary to ensure that the recreational harvest quota is not exceeded. There is a possibility of another opener for springers later in the season.

In contrast, Idaho Fish and Game has expanded spring chinook salmon fishing opportunities upriver in the Clearwater River Basin. Officials in Idaho have indicated that the run is larger than initially forecast, resulting in some rules being relaxed.