Recreational fishermen will get another chance to go after spring Chinook salmon in the Columbia River under seasons adopted on Wednesday by fishery managers from Oregon and Washington.
Below Bonneville Dam, the season will open Friday, May 25 and continue through Wednesday, June 6. The open area is from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to Beacon Rock, for both boat and bank anglers, plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline.
Above Bonneville Dam, the season will also open Friday, May 25 but continue through Friday, June 15. Boat and bank angling will be allowed from the Tower Island Power Lines about six miles below The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam). Downstream of Tower Island, salmonid angling is restricted to bank angling only.
The seasons were approved after fishery managers reviewed early season catches and an updated run forecast that showed 116,500 upriver spring Chinook are expected to return to the river mouth.
The daily bag limit is two adult salmonids (Chinook, coho, or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook. Only hatchery fish may be kept.
Current high river conditions are predicted to continue for some time, so boat anglers should use caution when navigating and anchoring due to faster than normal current and potential for floating debris.
For more information about upcoming Columbia River seasons, including regulation updates, visit ODFW’s online fishing reports.
