Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington opened two recreational Chinook salmon seasons on the Columbia River based on improved returns, and closed retention sturgeon fishing in another area.
Chinook salmon fishing will open to boat anglers from Beacon Rock upstream to the fishing deadline at Bonneville Dam, effective Saturday, May 30 through June 15. Previously, this section of the river was open only to bank anglers. With this modification, Chinook fishing is now permitted for both boat and bank fishers from Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam. This area will also open to retention of steelhead along with Chinook.
Fishery managers also reopened the Columbia above Bonneville Dam to Chinook salmon and steelhead fishing from Thursday, May 28 through June 15. The open area extends from the Tower Island power lines, approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam, upstream to the Oregon/Washington border. In addition, bank (but not boat) fishing is permitted on both sides of the river from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines.
The daily bag limit for all fisheries noted above includes two adult salmonids per day, but only one may be a Chinook. Only adipose fin-clipped fish may be kept and all other permanent regulations apply. Sockeye may not be retained until the summer season opens June 16.
Additionally, fishery managers closed the John Day Pool and tributaries to retention of white sturgeon, effective June 3. Catch and release fishing for sturgeon remains allowed in the John Day Pool, except from May through July in the sturgeon spawning sanctuary that runs from McNary Dam downstream to the I-82 Bridge.
