Pursuant to the Nez Perce Tribal Code Section 3-1-11, the Nez Perce Tribe Fish and Wildlife Commission has the authority to promulgate annual and seasonal hunting and fishing regulations and prescribe the manner and methods which may be used in taking fish and wildlife. Pursuant to that authority, the Nez Perce Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the following fishing regulation for the Nez Perce Tribe.
Nez Perce Tribe
2015 Season Regulation NPTFWC #15-125
2015 Snake River Basin Spring & Summer Chinook
Ceremonial and Subsistence Treaty Fisheries
Season Open Until Closed
The following subbasins reflect key tributary areas where the Nez Perce Tribe will prioritize harvest by enrolled members based upon forecasted returns of adult spring and summer Chinook salmon.
CLEARWATER RIVER SUBBASIN
Mainstem Clearwater: Confluence with the Snake River upstream to the confluence with the Lochsa and Selway rivers. There is a closure area of 30 feet radius from fish ladder entrance to the Nez Perce Tribal Hatchery complex located on the Mainstem Clearwater River near Cherry Lane.
North Fork Clearwater: Confluence with the mainstem Clearwater River upstream to the Dworshak Dam.
South Fork Clearwater: Confluence of the South Fork Clearwater River with the Middle Fork Clearwater River upstream to the weirs/traps located on, Newsome Creek, Red River, and Crooked River, with the area above the weirs/traps closed to fishing.
Clear Creek: Confluence with the mainstem Clearwater River upstream to 10 feet below the hatchery weir, with area above the weir closed fishing.
Lochsa River: Area directly below the hatchery trap on Walton Creek, tributary to Lochsa River, downstream to the confluence of
Lochsa River with Selway River and the Middle Fork Clearwater River (Three Rivers area).
Selway River: Area from mouth of Selway River upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
Lolo Creek: Confluence with the mainstem Clearwater River upstream to 60 feet below the weir/trap, with area above the weir closed to fishing.
SALMON RIVER SUBBASIN
Rapid River/Little Salmon River: Area of the Little Salmon River from its mouth upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate, and on the Rapid River from its mouth upstream to 60 feet below the hatchery trap on Rapid River, with area above the weir closed
to fishing.
South Fork Salmon River: Area open to fishing would include the South Fork Salmon River from 10 feet below the weir (RM 72)
downstream to the confluence with the Salmon River, with area above the weir closed to fishing.
Secesh River: Area open on Secesh River will be from its mouth (confluence with South Fork Salmon River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
East Fork South Fork/Johnson Creek: Area open to fishing on the East Fork South Fork Salmon River is from its confluence with South Fork Salmon River upstream to Johnson Creek and on Johnson Creek from its mouth upstream to 10 feet below the weir, with area above the weir closed to fishing.
Big Creek: Area open on Big Creek will be from its mouth (confluence with Middle Fork Salmon River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
Bear Valley: Area open on Bear Valley Creek will be from its mouth (confluence with Middle Fork Salmon River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
Marsh Creek: Area open on Marsh Creek will be from mouth (confluence with Middle Fork Salmon River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
Yankee Fork: Area open on Yankee Fork will be from its mouth (confluence with Upper Mainstem of the Salmon River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
IMNAHA RIVER SUBBASIN*
Imnaha River: Prior to weir installation the area open to fishing on the Imnaha River will be from confluence with mainstem Snake River upstream to upper reaches of the river where fish can migrate to spawn—after the weir is installed, the upper most area open to fishing will be up to 10 feet below the weir, with area above the weir closed to fishing.
*Prior to weir installation fishing area will include the area of the Blue Hole and other areas located above the Gumboot weir.
GRANDE RONDE RIVER SUBBASIN
Lostine/Wallowa Rivers: Area open includes the reach of the Wallowa River from its confluence with Minam River upstream to the confluence with the Lostine River; then from the mouth of the Lostine River upstream to 10 feet below the end of the permanent concrete sill and weir structure, with area above the weir closed to fishing.
Lookingglass Creek: Area open to fishing for Lookingglass Creek will be from its mouth upstream to 10 feet below the adult trap, with area above the trap closed to fishing. This fishery may close soon due to achieving the Tribe’s harvest goals for this year.
Minam River: Area open on Minam River will be from mouth (confluence with Wallowa River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
Wenaha River: Area open on Wenaha River will be from its mouth (confluence with Grande Ronde River) upstream to upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
Grande Ronde River: Area open on the Grande Ronde will be from its mouth (confluence with the Snake River) upstream to its upper reaches where fish can migrate to spawn.
TUCANNON RIVER SUBBASIN
Tucannon River: Area open to fishing by Nez Perce tribal members include the mainstem Tucannon River from the Snake River confluence upstream to 60 feet below the adult trap at the Tucannon Fish Hatchery, with area above the adult trap closed to fishing.
MAINSTEM SNAKE RIVER
Snake River: Area of the mainstem Snake River from Lower Granite Dam upstream to the Hells Canyon Dam will be open to
Ceremonial and Subsistence fishing.
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Tribal members are prohibited from fishing from, and directly on, fish weirs and traps that are specified in the above regulations for those rivers and areas where the weirs and traps are used and operated for salmon management purposes.
Release wild fish (adipose fin present) when possible if caught by hook-and-line or by net fishing (dip net, hoopnet, other) is encouraged for Tribal members fishing at rivers in northeast Oregon (Imnaha and Lostine/Wallowa rivers, and Lookingglass Creek), by doing so will help the Tribe keep the impacts to wild fish low and keep a fishery open longer. Release of wild/natural fish is not required for Tribal members fishing in rivers/tributaries of the Clearwater and Salmon River subbasins.
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Season Length: Tributaries ceremonial and subsistence fishing seasons are “open until closed” by Tribal regulation. Tributary fisheries will close when one of the following conditions result: tributary-specific harvest goal is reached, wild spring and summer Chinook impact levels are attained, or natural spawning begins, whichever comes first.
Harvest Reporting: Tribal members participating in the treaty fishery are encouraged to report their catch each week to Nez Perce Tribe Department of Fisheries Resources Management Harvest Monitoring Program staff members. This will help in managing our spring and summer Chinook fisheries in a responsible and timely manner
Gear Types and Fishing Methods: Fishing methods permitted for use by tribal members may include, but is not limited to, the following traditional fishing gear: gaff, dip net, hoopnet, bow, spear, scaffold, and hook and line.
Nez Perce Tribe may issue permits on a case-by-case basis that allows authorized tribal members to develop and use other traditional (or modern) fishing gear such as weirs, traps, nets, and seines, excluding the use of gillnets until further notice.
If the Tribe authorizes a commercial fishing season, the season will be addressed in a separate fishing regulation with specific areas, periods, and requirements.
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If you have fishing enforcement concerns, please contact the Nez Perce Tribe Fisheries Resources Management Enforcement dispatch at 208-843-7143 or Toll Free at 1-877-790-3474.
All sections of the Nez Perce Tribal Code and other Nez Perce regulations applicable to this fishery remain in effect. Not complying with these regulations may be cause for civil or criminal penalties per the Tribal Code or NPT fishing regulations. Carry your Nez Perce Tribal Enrollment Card when fishing.
Respect the water and earth by putting litter in its place, and catch only what you can properly handle. Please help elders and others that cannot fish for themselves.
For additional information on Nez Perce Tribal regulations, please contact the Nez Perce Tribe Fish and Wildlife Commission at 208- 843-9376.
Please wear your life jackets for safety and take only what you can safely handle.