Fishing for Chinook salmon opened Aug. 18per permanent regulations (ODFW 2023 Fishing Regulations pg. 70). Anglers need to remember that barbless hooks must be used when fishing for salmon or steelhead on the Snake River.‌

Sturgeon fishing can be good in the Snake River downstream of Hells Canyon Dam. Anglers must use barbless hooks to fish for sturgeon, and sturgeon may not be retained in the Snake River. All sturgeon must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water.‌

Bass fishing can be excellent in Hells Canyon during the summer. Plastic jigs and diving lures can be great ways to catch bass in Hells Canyon. They also can be caught on flies including on the surface.‌

Anglers should carefully watch flows during the summer as they can change by over 10,000 cubic feet per second daily as dam operators respond to daily power demands. This can change not only where good fishing areas are but can also affect river levels and navigability.