05-18-2011, 12:10 AM
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington today decided to re-open the chinook salmon season on the Columbia River below Bonneville Dam, effective Sunday, May 15. Anglers will also be able to retain steelhead and sockeye.
Better than expected returns of chinook salmon prompted the decision to reopen the season, which has been closed since April 20.<br />
A multi-jurisdictional task force of government and tribal biologists boosted their forecast of returning chinook salmon to 210,000, up from 198,400 chinook forecast last fall.<br />
"For the first time since 2007, we have a run update that is going to let us open a late-spring chinook season," said Chris Kern, assistant manger of ODFW's Columbia River Fisheries Program. "This also allows us to get an early start on fishing for summer steelhead between the I-5 Bridge and Bonneville. That area doesn't usually open until June 16."<br />
The daily bag limit will be two adult salmon/steelhead in combination, of which only one may be an adult chinook. Chinook salmon and steelhead must be adipose fin-clipped to be retained; the fin clip requirement does not apply to sockeye. Fishing from boats will be allowed from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line near Astoria upstream to Beacon Rock, approximately five miles downstream from Bonneville Dam. Bank fishing will be permitted all the way up to Bonneville Dam.<br />
Above Bonneville, the season remains closed but the agencies will be reviewing the opportunity to provide additional fishing in these areas pending future run updates later in May.
Better than expected returns of chinook salmon prompted the decision to reopen the season, which has been closed since April 20.<br />
A multi-jurisdictional task force of government and tribal biologists boosted their forecast of returning chinook salmon to 210,000, up from 198,400 chinook forecast last fall.<br />
"For the first time since 2007, we have a run update that is going to let us open a late-spring chinook season," said Chris Kern, assistant manger of ODFW's Columbia River Fisheries Program. "This also allows us to get an early start on fishing for summer steelhead between the I-5 Bridge and Bonneville. That area doesn't usually open until June 16."<br />
The daily bag limit will be two adult salmon/steelhead in combination, of which only one may be an adult chinook. Chinook salmon and steelhead must be adipose fin-clipped to be retained; the fin clip requirement does not apply to sockeye. Fishing from boats will be allowed from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line near Astoria upstream to Beacon Rock, approximately five miles downstream from Bonneville Dam. Bank fishing will be permitted all the way up to Bonneville Dam.<br />
Above Bonneville, the season remains closed but the agencies will be reviewing the opportunity to provide additional fishing in these areas pending future run updates later in May.