Posts Tagged ‘Columbia River’
Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon today set fishing seasons for 2012 on the lower Columbia River that anticipate a strong run of spring chinook salmon but a further decline in the number of white sturgeon available for harvest.
View the press release here
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Columbia River anglers will have four more days to catch hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam, where tough fishing conditions have held this year’s catch below expected levels since late last month.
Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon agreed Thursday to extend the season through April 19 to give anglers more time to reach the initial harvest guideline set at the beginning of the season.
Through April 15, lower-river anglers are projected to have caught and kept a total of 5,900 spring chinook, including 4,600 upriver fish that count toward the 7,700-fish harvest guideline.
This year’s harvest guideline for the lower river fisheries is based on a projected return of 198,400 upriver fish, minus a 30 percent “buffer” to guard against overestimating the run. Based on the estimated catch through April 19, the fishery will close with a buffer of approximately 43 percent, said Guy Norman, WDFW southwest regional director.
Here is the press release:
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Columbia River anglers will get at least eight more days to catch hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam under a decision announced today by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.
The lower Columbia will reopen to fishing Friday, April 8, through Friday, April 15. Fishery managers will meet again April 14 to determine whether to allow additional fishing time.
Through April 4, anglers had caught and kept a total of 4,500 spring chinook. Approximately 3,800 were upriver fish, compared to a 7,700-fish harvest guideline for upriver chinook set at the beginning of the season.
Along with the eight additional fishing days, lower-river anglers could get another chance to catch spring chinook in May, once fishery managers update the run forecast. While the preseason forecast projected a return of 198,400 upriver fish, the fishery has been managed with a 30 percent “buffer” to guard against overestimating the run.
Read the press release here
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
The sport fishery for white sturgeon between John Day Dam and McNary Dam on the Columbia River will close to retention at 12:01a.m. April 10 through Dec. 31, 2011.
Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon will still be allowed between John Day and McNary dams, and between Bonneville and The Dalles dams. The section of the Columbia River and tributaries between The Dalles Dam and John Day Dam remain open to sturgeon retention until the harvest guideline for that reservoir is reached. The spawning sanctuaries from the Highway 395/I-82 bridge upstream to McNary Dam and from the Rufus grain elevator upstream to John Day Dam will be closed to all sturgeon fishing May 1 through July 31.
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
I was just talking to my friend Phil about going down to look at this area to see about spring opportunities there. He never reads the Blog because he can’t remember the name (he’s from Nebraska) but I thought I would put it out there anyway.
The rule change is:
The Deep River hatchery adult chinook daily limit will be the same as the adjacent mainstem Columbia River during those days when the mainstem Columbia River is open for adult chinook retention. When the adjacent mainstem Columbia River is closed for adult chinook retention the Deep River hatchery adult salmon daily limit will revert to permanent rules.
Here is a link to the news release
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Gig Harbor Fly Shop
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