the film forum library tutorial contact DONATE

Washington Cancels Upper Columbia Sockeye Season by Staff Outdoor Hub, July 8, 2026

For Washington salmon anglers, there is some bad news: the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has canceled the Upper Columbia Sockeye Season for this year. While pre-season sockeye salmon forecasts indicated it was a go this year, early salmon return data show otherwise. WDFW fishery managers project the return of adult sockeye salmon to the Bonneville Dam to be less than half of the pre-season forecast of 275,000 fish based on current run size information.

"Sockeye returns are tracking well-below what fishery managers forecasted before the season, which means fewer fish are available to support fisheries throughout the Columbia River system," said Quinten Daugherty, acting Columbia River fisheries manager with WDFW. "These closures and reductions reflect a precautionary, in-season adjustment designed to align fisheries with current return data while preserving flexibility if conditions change as the run develops."

"We understand anglers in the Upper Columbia are disappointed by these closures," said Chad Jackson, North Central Region fish program manager. "A cautious approach gives us the best chance to preserve future fishing opportunity while we learn more about the size of the sockeye return. If the run develops at harvestable levels, we expect most additional opportunity would occur in the Upper Columbia River above the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco."

Related Pages:
Snake River Sockeye Broodstock Program Preserving Population's Genetic Diversity by Staff, Columbia Basin Bulletin, 8/10/12