2011 Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishery Extended

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The sport fishery for hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon has been extended through June 15 on a section of the Columbia River stretching 163.5 miles above Bonneville Dam.

Previously set to close June 3, the spring chinook fishery was extended by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon, who recently agreed that enough fish are still available under the catch limit to allow anglers to keep fishing until the summer chinook salmon season starts June 16.

The popular spring chinook fishery was already scheduled to run through June 15 below Bonneville Dam.

“We’re pleased that we can keep these fisheries open right up to the end of the season,” said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “Fishing conditions due to high water levels haven’t been ideal this season and this extension should give anglers a chance to make up for lost time.”

The season extension allows boat and bank anglers to continue fishing above Bonneville Dam from the Tower Island power lines upriver to the Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank fishing is also allowed from Bonneville Dam upriver to the power lines, located six miles below The Dalles Dam.

Anglers can retain up to two hatchery adult chinook salmon, marked with a clipped adipose fin, as part of their daily catch limit. Sockeye salmon and hatchery-reared steelhead also count toward anglers’ adult daily limit. All unmarked chinook and steelhead must be released unharmed.

source: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife