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Lower Columbia River Fisheries Announced by Doug Huddle Bellingham Herald, February 10, 2011

Columbia River sport fishing seasons for sturgeon and spring chinook announced this week exemplify the yin and yang nature of these fish stocks.

While a decent, though not stellar, return of almost 200,000 spring chinook is expected with the promise of more openings if the run is bigger, continued declines in sturgeon abundance below Bonneville Dam prompted more stringent regulations in the lower river.

And though the numbers of bigger brood female sturgeon are dropping in the lower river, anglers have been told to expect a spate of larger spring chinook (in the 18- to 30-pound range) as a result of good survival in the five-year old age class of the run.

FISHERY FOR SPRING SALMON

Building on the current boat and bank opening from Buoy 10 near the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to the Interstate 5 bridge, opportunities will be open March 1 through April 14 in another 22 miles upriver to Rooster Rock.

Bank anglers also will have access to fish from Rooster Rock up to the fishing boundary below Bonneville Dam at the same time.

Above Bonneville Dam, the fishery will be open to boat and bank anglers daily from March 16 through April 24 between the Tower Island power-lines six miles below

The Dalles Dam and the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank anglers can also fish from Bonneville Dam upriver to the powerlines during that time.

Anglers fishing downriver from Bonneville Dam may retain one hatchery-reared adult chinook per day as part of their catch limit. Above the dam, anglers can keep two marked hatchery chinook per day.

All unmarked wild spring chinook must be released unharmed.

Related Pages:
We Support Eliminating the Marking of Hatchery Fish by Idaho Farm Bureau, Quarterly, 2/11