Willamette Zone

News: Oregon sets spring chinook, sturgeon seasons for Columbia and Willamette rivers Willamette sturgeon retention season announced for July

CLACKAMAS RIVER
Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, barbless hooks will be required from the mouth to the 99E Bridge when fishing for salmon, steelhead and trout.

SANDY RIVER
Effective February 28, 2013 angling for sturgeon, including catch and release, is prohibited in the Sandy River.

WILLAMETTE RIVER, Mouth to Willamette Falls, including Multnomah Channel
Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, barbless hooks will be required from the mouth to Willamette Falls, including the Multnomah Channel and Gilbert River, when fishing for salmon, steelhead and trout.

Salmon and Steelhead
This area is open to retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead and adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon the entire year under permanent rules.

Bank angling is prohibited from the east shore of the Willamette River the entire year at the "Oregon City Wall" defined as the area beginning west of Highway 99E, at the northern-most extent of the parking area near the intersection of 8th Street and Highway 99E in Oregon City, approximately 290 feet downstream of the Oregon City/West Linn bridge (Hwy 43) and extending upstream approximately 1715 feet to the retaining wall extending into the Willamette River at the NW corner of the Blue Heron Paper Mill.

Sturgeon
Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls including the Multnomah Channel and Gilbert River

Sturgeon retention is closed effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Retention allowed Thursday through Saturday, July 11-13 and Thursday through Saturday, July 18-20. Staff will review catch rates after each retention period and may adjust seasons, if necessary, to stay within allowable harvest of 1,733 fish.

The annual bag limit for Oregon in 2013 is one legal white sturgeon total for all zones statewide.

Catch and release angling may continue during retention closures, except for the following permanent rules:
Angling for sturgeon, including catch-and-release, is prohibited seven days per week during May 1 through August 31 from Willamette Falls downstream to the I-205 Bridge. Bank angling is prohibited from the east shore of the Willamette River the entire year at the "Oregon City Wall" defined as the area beginning west of Highway 99E, at the northern-most extent of the parking area near the intersection of 8th Street and Highway 99E in Oregon City, approximately 290 feet downstream of the Oregon City/West Linn bridge (Hwy 43) and extending upstream approximately 1715 feet to the retaining wall extending into the Willamette River at the NW corner of the Blue Heron Paper Mill.