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Tribes Begin Sales of Commercial Salmon, Steelhead by Staff The Statesman Journal, August 24, 2010

Members of the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes today announced the opening of sales of commercially caught salmon and steelhead.

According to the announcement of the start of the sales, most of the fish will be Chinook salmon and steelhead with smaller numbers of coho salmon available.

The large run of salmon and steelhead should result in ongoing sales of Columbia River fish for the next several weeks, tribal officials said.

To find out where fish are available, call (888) 289-1855.

Fisheries biologists estimate that 555,700 upriver fall Chinook and up to 450,000 summer steelhead will enter the Columbia River.

That should allow for sales of fall salmon and steelhead to continue into late September.

"The tribal fall fisheries season is very important to tribal fishing families and provides an important economic benefit to communities along the river," said Paul Lumley, the executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. "The fall fishery is often viewed as the backbone for the tribes' fishing economy because of its reliability

"The tribes welcome the non-tribal public to experience the Columbia River Indian salmon harvest by purchasing salmon."

Sales locations on the Oregon side of the river include: Marine Park in Cascade Locks, Lone Pine in The Dalles and North Bonneville a mile east of Bonneville Dam, although locations depend on the availability of fish.

If you never have purchased salmon or steelhead from tribal fishers, here are some guidelines:

• Pack a cooler with ice.
• Sales usually run from 10 a.m. to dusk.
• Price is determined at the point of sale.
• Most sales are cash only.
• You should get a receipt.
• Ask for tips about fish care and preparation.