the film forum library tutorial contact DONATE

Final Preliminary Lower Columbia River Spring Chinook Catch Data by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, April 24, 2015

10,180 (77% of 13,183 total chinook kept) of the chinook kept were upriver origin based upon Visual Stock Identification (VSI).

Here is the final preliminary latest Lower Columbia River in-season catch and angler effort estimates by state Fish and Wildlife (NOTE: The lower river sport fishery is now closed for spring chinook, steelhead and shad):

Last Thursday, April 16, anglers on the Lower Columbia made 6,290 trips and caught 2,460 adult chinook (1,970 kept and 490 released) and two steelhead (released). Based on Visual Stock Identification (VSI) sampling, upriver spring chinook comprised 82% of the kept catch. See below.

From Feb. 1-April 16, there have been an estimated 96,764 angler trips with 13,183 adult spring chinook kept and 2,150 released. 10,180 (77%) of the chinook kept were upriver origin based upon Visual Stock Identification (VSI).

Prior to the run update, allocation of upriver fish (including release mortalities) for non-Indian fisheries will be 10,318 fish for the recreational fishery below Bonneville Dam.

According to the data provided by Joy Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist, the best fishing occurred in the Woodland area where 2,650 boats with 6,886 anglers (2,361 with 6,187 the week before) had 1,782 springers kept (1,443 the week before) and 275 released (162); downstream from Puget Island 1,855 with 4,347 (1,681 with 3,960) with 1,524 (1,280) caught and 80 (46) released; and Vancouver area 2,923 with 7,071 (2,537 with 6,195) with 1,297 kept (1,059) and 196 released (171).

Another location with good angling pressure is around the I-5 Bridge 1,881 with 4,670 (1,575 with 3,959) with 716 (541) caught and 178 (118) released.

The Longview area saw 1,776 with 3,993 (1,582 with 3,570) with 622 (544) caught and 80 released (69); the Kalama stretch 1,256 with 3,130 (1,085 with 2,271) with 808 (703) caught and 105 (95) released; Cathlamet 695 with 1,725 (637 with 1,562) with 464 (409) kept and 71 (57) released; downstream from Bonneville 632 with 1,965 (526 with 1,645) with 937 (676) caught and 249 (129) released; and Camas-Washougal area 1,413 with 2,819 (1,132 with 2,259) with 356 (186) caught and 106 (70) released.

The Bonneville Dam fish counts ramped up with 60,400 counted at the fish ladder for the season. On April 21, 5,987 were counted; April 20, 13,190; April 19, 11,327; April 18, 7,926; April 17, 5,417 and April 16, 2,952.

Hatchery spring chinook fishing below Bonne­ville Dam is now closed, but the mainstem river above Bonneville Dam is open through May 6.