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Lower Columbia Spring Chinook Fishery Extended Through April 10 by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, March 30, 2017

Spring chinook anglers on the Lower Columbia River will get more time on the water as related to poor fishing conditions.

The spring chinook fishery -- originally scheduled to close on April 6 -- will now remain through April 10 below Bonneville Dam.

While a lot remains unknown there is a possibility that the fishery could see another extension if catches don't improve. So far, only 53 hatchery-marked chinook (lower and upriver origin fish) have been kept by anglers through March 26.

As of March 26, catch estimates show that Washington state anglers had caught a total of 24 upriver spring chinook salmon, just a fraction of the expected harvest of 6,905 upriver chinook through April 6.

While a lot remains unknown there is a possibility that the fishery could see another extension if catches don't improve. So far, only 53 hatchery-marked chinook (lower and upriver origin fish) have been kept by anglers through March 26.

As of March 26, catch estimates show that Washington state anglers had caught a total of 24 upriver spring chinook salmon, just a fraction of the expected harvest of 6,905 upriver chinook through April 6.

Columbia water conditions are high and turbid, much colder than normal with murky water and plenty of logs and debris being pushed downstream. It is much more turbid than recent five-year averages for late March. Current outflow is 447 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is twice the average of 220 cfs.

Water temperature currently measures 44 degrees, which is colder than the average of 45.2 degrees. Visibility is 1.0 feet compared to the average of 4.7 feet. The river stage at Vancouver is currently 17.6 feet (flood stage is 16.0 feet) and is forecasted to crest at 17.9 feet on March 31.

The Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to Beacon Rock (boat and bank) plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline will remain open for spring chinook through April 10. The closure area near the mouth of the Lewis River remains in effect.

The daily bag limit is two adult salmonids, but only one may be a hatchery-marked chinook; all sockeye must be released per permanent regulation. All other permanent regulations apply.