CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Following a run upgrade, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington adopted additional fishing days for recreational spring Chinook salmon in the Columbia River today during a joint state hearing.

This additional opportunity is based on a projected return of 87,000 adult upriver spring Chinook to the Columbia River mouth, which exceeds the preseason forecast of 75,200 adults. The larger return provides additional post-update harvest opportunity both below and above Bonneville Dam. 

However, given the low passage of Skamania stock steelhead over Bonneville Dam to-date, managers elected to reduce the steelhead bag limit to one fish starting this Friday and continuing through the spring management period which ends June 15.  A one steelhead bag limit was also previously adopted for the summer management period which begins June 16.

The season dates and bag limits for the additional fishing days are:

Below Bonneville Dam

• Season: Friday May 21 through Sunday May 23, and June 1-15
• Bag limit: Two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook and only one may be a steelhead.
• Open area: Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline (boat and bank), except salmonid angling from a boat is prohibited in the spring salmonid boat-angling area closure adjacent to the Cowlitz River mouth (map available at https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone).

Bonneville Dam to Oregon/Washington Border

• Season: Saturday May 22, Sunday May 23, Saturday May 29, and Sunday May 30
• Open area: Tower Island power lines (approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam) upstream to Oregon/Washington border, plus the Oregon and Washington banks between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines.
• Bag limit: Two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook and only one may be a steelhead.

Fishery managers scheduled another hearing for 3 p.m. next Tuesday, May 25 to consider the latest information on catch rates and determine if additional fishing days can be added.

For the latest on Columbia River fishing regulations, visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone