Need a Columbia River Fishing Guide? Give Swanny a Call! 360-446-5177 or 206-755-1204
05/18/2016
OLYMPIA – Anglers can catch and keep spring chinook salmon May 20-22 on a section of the lower Columbia River under a three-day extension approved today by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.
Although the latest projection of returning upriver spring chinook is down slightly from the preseason forecast, representatives from both states agreed it is still strong enough to allow at least one more opening – and perhaps more – in the lower river this year.
More than 2,300 upriver fish are still available for harvest under the current catch guideline, said Ron Roler, Columbia River policy advisor for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
“We’re hoping to reopen the fishery again prior to Memorial Day, but that will depend on the count of upriver fish passing Bonneville Dam,” Roler said.
This week’s three-day extension will reopen the spring chinook fishery from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upriver to Beacon Rock for boat anglers, with bank fishing allowed up to the deadline below the dam. Anglers are limited to one adult hatchery chinook salmon as part of their daily limit of two adult fish.
Under permanent rules, anglers may retain hatchery steelhead and hatchery chinook jacks through June 15 from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the I-5 Bridge. Shad fishing is open up to Bonneville Dam and beyond
Fishery managers now anticipate a return of 180,000 upriver spring chinook to the Columbia River this year, down from 188,800 projected prior to the season.
Salmon and steelhead fishing remains closed until further notice above Bonneville Dam but reopens for the summer chinook season June 16 in waters above and below the dam under rules outlined in the Washington Sport Fishing rules pamphlet (http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/).
This Report is courtesy of Bill Swann of Swannys Fishing Guide Service. If you are looking for a top notch fishing guide give Swanny a call (360) 446-5177 or (206) 755-1204
This concludes our 2016 Columbia River Fishing Report
Lunker’s Guide 2016 Columbia River fishing Report!
Need a Columbia River Fishing Guide? Give Swanny a Call! 360-446-5177 or 206-755-1204
