PHOTO COURTESY OF ODFW
Looking for a unique way to spend Father’s Day? Think about a day of fishing for North America’s largest freshwater fish species – white sturgeon – on the Columbia River. The first of three scheduled summer sturgeon seasons kicks off just in time for Father’s Day.
Retention sturgeon fishing will take place June 19-21 on the Columbia River between Bonneville and The Dalles dams. Additional three-day fishing periods are scheduled for June 26-28 and July 3-5, although managers may adjust those dates to remain within the 1,100 fish annual harvest guideline.
Fishery managers adopted the three-day summer seasons above Bonneville last year based on feedback from anglers, who in a series of public meetings expressed strong support for summer sturgeon fisheries. Retention sturgeon fishing is also open from McNary Dam to the Oregon/Washington border through July. The rest of the Columbia is limited to catch-and-release sturgeon fishing.
Sturgeon must be between 38 inches and 54 inches fork length to be retained in Bonneville Pool and between 43 and 54 inches fork length upstream of McNary Dam. The bag limit is one fish per day and two for the year. Fishing is restricted to the use of a single, barbless hook.
Anglers are reminded that sturgeon fishing, including catch-and-release, is not permitted in the sturgeon sanctuary from The Dalles Dam downstream 1.8 miles to the boat ramp at the Port of The Dalles.
For more information visit Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife’s website.
