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The Backcountry Outdoor News reports the latest hunting and, fishing news along with fishing derbies and tournaments
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COLUMBIA RIVER
The preseason forecast for summer Chinook at the mouth of the Columbia River was 38,000 fish, but managers on Monday upgraded the forecast to 65,000 based on returns so far. Washington and Oregon fishery managers agreed in a hearing Tuesday that the run could support a brief opening on the mainstem, said Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River fishery manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Managers will reassess the fishery early next week with updated catch estimates.
“The run is tracking above what we expected this year, which is great news, but we’re still carefully monitoring these fisheries to ensure we’re achieving our conservation goals for all the species that share the river,” Lothrop said.
Sockeye and steelhead fishing closed on the lower Columbia River mainstem below the Highway 395 bridge in late June after early sockeye catch rates exceeded expectations. Historically, a high proportion of the sockeye run passes Bonneville Dam by July 4, so impacts to those sockeye as a result of the mainstem Chinook fishery should be minimal, and any extension of the fishery downstream of Highway 395 will be dependent on sockeye impacts, Lothrop said.
Steelhead fishing remains closed below the Highway 395 bridge, as it would likely result in additional impacts to sockeye.
The river remains closed to salmon and steelhead fishing between the Highway 395 bridge at Pasco and the Interstate 182 bridge. Sockeye fishing is open above the Interstate 182 bridge, as Snake River sockeye exit the Columbia by that point.
The opening dates and daily limits for the Columbia River are as follows:
- From the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the Highway 395 bridge at Pasco: July 4 through July 8, 2020. Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 may be adult hatchery Chinook. Minimum size 12”. Anglers must release all steelhead and salmon except hatchery Chinook.
- From the Interstate-182 bridge to Priest Rapids Dam: July 4 through July 31, 2020. Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Minimum size 12”. Release wild adult Chinook and coho.
- From Priest Rapids Dam to Rock Island Dam: July 4 through Aug. 31, 2020. Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 may be adult hatchery Chinook and up to 2 may be sockeye. Minimum size 12”. Release wild adult Chinook and coho.
- From Rock Island Dam to Wells Dam: July 4 through Oct. 15, 2020. Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 may be adult hatchery Chinook and up to 2 may be sockeye. Minimum size 12”. Release wild adult Chinook and coho.
- From Wells Dam to the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster: July 16 through Sept. 15, 2020. Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 may be adult hatchery Chinook and up to 2 may be sockeye. Minimum size 12”. Release wild adult Chinook and coho.
- From the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster to the rock jetty at the upstream shoreline of Foster Creek (Douglas County side): July 4 through Oct. 15, 2020. Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 may be adult hatchery Chinook and up to 2 may be sockeye. Minimum size 12”. Release wild adult Chinook and coho.
ENTIAT RIVER
- Effective date: One hour before official sunrise July 16 to one hour after official sunset on September 30, 2020.
- Location: From the mouth (railroad bridge) to the boundary markers located approximately 1,500 feet upstream of the upper Roaring Creek Road Bridge (immediately downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery).
- Rule: Salmon daily limit is 6. Min. size 12". Release all salmon other than Chinook. Barbed hooks are allowed.
- Additional information: The summer Chinook run will be closely monitored and updated by TAC weekly. The season could change or close quickly if necessary.
CHELAN RIVER
- Effective date: One hour before official sunrise July 16 to one hour after official sunset on October 15, 2020.
- Location: From the mouth (railroad bridge) Chelan County PUD safety barrier below the powerhouse.
- Rule: Salmon daily limit is 6; up to 2 adult hatchery Chinook may be retained. Min. size is 12". Barbed hooks are allowed. Release sockeye, coho, and wild adult Chinook.
- Additional information: The summer Chinook run will be closely monitored and updated by TAC weekly. The season could change or close quickly if necessary.
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Washington 2020 Openings for Summer Chinook Salmon
Submitted by: TBC Press
Posted on: 07/06/20
News # 13693
With the summer Chinook salmon run exceeding preseason expectations, fishery managers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) agreed to open several recreational river fishing opportunities.
Chinook fishing on the Columbia River is open through July 8 from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point Line upstream to the Highway 395 bridge in Pasco. The portion of the river from Wells Dam to the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster will open July 16. This later opener helps protect spring Chinook listed under the Endangered Species Act that migrate through and hold in that area of the Columbia River.
The Entiat and Chelan rivers will also open for Chinook on July 16; see the emergency rules page at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/ for more information, and for updates to other fisheries.
