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Upper Snake River Opens Sunday for Chinook Fishing by Staff Statesman Journal, April 17, 2012

The fish probably won't be there, but the upper Snake River opens Sunday for spring Chinook fishing.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is opening the river to sport fishing seven days a week from the Dug Bar Boat Ramp to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam.

The daily bag limit is a total of four adipose fin-clipped spring Chinook salmon (adults and jacks) a day, no more than two of which can be adult salmon longer than 24 inches.

Anglers must stop fishing for salmon for the day when they have kept four salmon or two adult salmon, whichever comes first.

Only barbless hooks are allowed.

Check the "2012 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations," available free at license agents, for other regulations.

"Snake River spring Chinook are just beginning to arrive in the Columbia (River)," said Jeff Yanke, the district fish biologist in Enterprise. "But with the closure of the steelhead season this past weekend, this early notice is a good reminder that Chinook fishing is quickly approaching."

Fishery managers also expect to open spring Chinook seasons on some Snake River tributaries in Oregon.

"Our preseason projections suggest relatively strong runs in both the Imnaha and Grande Ronde basins," Yanke said. "However, we will be monitoring the lower Columbia run closely to ensure our projections hold up before announcing these fisheries in May."