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Columbia River Spring Chinook Jacks Knocking on Record Return by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, May 14, 2013

Here is an update on Columbia River spring chinook returns from Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist in Vancouver:

Through Thursday, May 9, a total of 18,032 spring chinook jacks had been counted at Bonneville Dam.

The record (since at least 1960) was 18,119 fish in 2009. That year, nearly 82,000 jacks were counted through June 15 (the end of the spring chinook count at the dam).

With the difference of less-100 fish to date, will we set a new record?

As for adult spring chinook returns to Bonneville, through Thursday, May 9, a total of 60,373 had been counted. The high single-day count was 7,311 on Friday, May 3, and since then counts have been averaging from 4,202 down to 1,834 daily.

Fishing for spring chinook remains open in some tributaries like Drano Lake, Wind River and Klickitat River, and closed in the pools above Bonnville Dam. Check the regulation pamphlet for details.