Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington closed sturgeon retention in The Dalles and Bonneville Pools effective 11:59 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 3.
The closure areas are the Bonneville Pool (mainstem Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam, and all adjacent tributaries) and The Dalles Pool (mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam, and all adjacent tributaries).
Although fishery managers had planned to use a three-day-a week fishing season (Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays) in Bonneville and The Dalles pools to lengthen the 2024 season, weather and water conditions were perfect for sturgeon fishing on New Year’s Day resulting in record angler effort in an already popular fishery. These conditions led to very high catch rates, and after Jan. 1, the total harvest was nearly 85 percent of the guideline in Bonneville Pool and 80 percent of the guideline in The Dalles Pool. Harvest is projected to be greater than 95 percent of the guideline in both pools after the Jan. 3 opener.
Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing remains open in the mainstem upstream of Bonneville Dam, except angling for sturgeon is prohibited May 1-Aug. 31 within sanctuary areas below each of the dam tailraces. See the permanent regulations for details.
Sturgeon retention remains open in John Day Pool.
