Steelhead fishing on the Umatilla River will be closed from Monday, Oct. 15 through April 30 of next year to protect native steelhead, according to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife (ODFW).
Also, the bag limit for salmon will be lowered on the Umatilla River from the Highway 730 bridge to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation boundary approximately 0.7 miles above the Highway 11 bridge. The ODFW will lower the bag limit from 3 to 1 adult fall Chinook or coho salmon per day and 5 jack salmon per day from Oct. 15-Nov. 30. In addition, 5 mini jack (8-15 inches) coho or fall Chinook salmon can be taken per day in that stretch of the Umatilla River.
Steelhead fishing will also be closed on the Walla Walla River from Dec. 1, 2018-April 30, 2019, again to protect native steelhead.
ODFW officials said the estimated returns for both the Umatilla and Walla Walla rivers are expected to be near historic lows, based on returns over Bonneville Dam. Officials said the steelhead closure and reduction in the fall Chinook and coho bag limits are needed to ensure enough fish are available for hatchery broodstock escapement to Threemile Dam.
For more information, call Bill Duke at 541-276-2344.
