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Columbia River Full of Fishing Fun for Fall Chinook, Steelhead and Walleye by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, August 1, 2012

COLUMBIA FISHING

Weekend Fishing Opportunities by Oregon Fish and Wildlife:

Summer steelhead are abundant in the lower Columbia River.

Fall chinook season opens Wednesday August 1 from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington Border above McNary Dam.

Walleye fishing is good in Troutdale and The Dalles Pool.

Salmon, Steelhead and Shad:

The following modifications are now in effect for the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam:

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, BUOY 10 LINE UPSTREAM TO THE TONGUE POINT/ROCKY POINT LINE:

August 1 through September 3, this area is open for adult chinook (greater than 24 inches), adipose fin-clipped adult coho (greater than 16 inches) and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination, only one of which may be a chinook. The retention of chum and sockeye is prohibited.

September 4 through September 30, this area is open for adipose fin-clipped summer steelhead and adipose fin-clipped adult coho (greater than 16 inches). The daily bag limit is two adult coho and/or steelhead in combination. The retention of chinook, chum and sockeye is prohibited.

October 1 through December 31, this section of the Columbia River is open for fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho, and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination and five jacks. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches and coho less than or equal to 16 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. Seasons may be subject to in-season modifications.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, TONGUE POINT/ROCKY POINT LINE UPSTREAM TO A LINE PROJECTED FROM WARRIOR ROCK LIGHTHOUSE ON SAUVIE ISLAND THROUGH RED BUOY #4 TO A MARKER ON THE LOWER END OF BACHELOR ISLAND:

August 1 through September 9, this area is open to the retention of fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination, only one of which may be a chinook, and five jack salmon. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches and coho less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of chum and sockeye is prohibited.

September 10 through September 16, this area is open for adipose fin-clipped fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped summer steelhead and adipose fin-clipped coho. The daily bag limit is two adults, only one of which may be a chinook, and five jack salmon. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches or coho less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of unclipped chinook, chum and sockeye is prohibited.

September 17 through September 30, this area is open adipose fin-clipped summer steelhead and adipose fin-clipped coho. The daily bag limit is two adult coho and/or steelhead in combination plus five coho jacks. Coho jacks are less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for coho jacks after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of chinook, chum and sockeye is prohibited.

October 1 through December 31, this area is open for fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho, and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination and five jacks. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches and coho less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of chum and sockeye is prohibited. Seasons may be subject to in-season modifications.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, A LINE PROJECTED FROM WARRIOR ROCK LIGHTHOUSE ON SAUVIE ISLAND THROUGH RED BUOY #4 TO A MARKER ON THE LOWER END OF BACHELOR ISLAND LINE UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM:

August 1 through September 9, this area is open to the retention of fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination, only one of which may be a chinook, and five jack salmon. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches and coho less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of chum and sockeye is prohibited.

September 10 through December 31, this area is open to the retention of fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination and five jack salmon. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches and coho less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of chum and sockeye is prohibited. Seasons may be subject to in-season modifications.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, BONNEVILLE DAM TO THE OREGON/WASHINGTON BORDER ABOVE MACNARY DAM:

Effective August 1 through December 31, this section of the Columbia River is open for fall chinook, coho (only adipose fin-clipped coho may be retained between Bonneville Dam and the Hood River bridge), and adipose fin-clipped steelhead. The daily bag limit is two adult salmon/steelhead in combination and five jacks. Jack salmon are chinook less than or equal to 24 inches and coho less than or equal to 20 inches. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult daily bag limit has been reached. The retention of chum and sockeye is prohibited. Seasons may be subject to in-season modifications.

On Saturday's (7/28) flight, 322 salmonid boats and 152 Oregon bank anglers were counted. Boat anglers had the best success in the Portland to Longview area where anglers averaged 0.61 steelhead caught per boat, while in Troutdale boat anglers averaged 0.50 steelhead caught per boat. Bank anglers had the highest catch rates in the gorge where anglers averaged 0.55 steelhead caught per angler. In the Portland to Longview area bank anglers averaged 0.15 steelhead caught per angler.

Gorge Bank:

Weekend checking showed 13 adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus 15 unclipped steelhead and one summer chinook adult released for 51 bank anglers.

Gorge Boats:

Weekend checking showed no catch for two boats (four anglers).

Troutdale Boats:

Weekend checking showed two adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept for four boats (six anglers).

Portland to Longview Bank:

Weekend checking showed five adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus three unclipped steelhead and one summer chinook adult released for 55 bank anglers.

Portland to Longview Boats:

Weekend checking showed 25 adipose fin-clipped steelhead released, plus 18 unclipped steelhead and one summer chinook adult released for 71 boats (167 anglers).

Estuary Bank (Wauna Power Lines to Tongue Point):

Weekly checking showed one adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus two unclipped steelhead released for 11 bank anglers.

Estuary Boats (Wauna Power Lines to Tongue Point):

Weekend checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).

Bonneville Pool Bank:

Weekly checking showed no catch for 12 bank anglers.

The Dalles Pool:

Weekly checking showed 12 adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus 49 unclipped steelhead released for 87 bank anglers.

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