the film forum library tutorial contact

Columbia's Chinook Run on Way Up by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, March 20, 2003

The change of season is a signal for salmon anglers to hit the Columbia River for spring chinook.

"Effort is increasing, and most fish are being caught between Vancouver and Bonneville," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Areas from the Cowlitz River mouth downstream remain fairly turbid (with a foot or less of visibility), but catches are starting to improve below the Cowlitz and in the Willamette zone."

An aerial survey last Saturday found 600 boats and 800 bank anglers plying the Lower Columbia.

Through Monday, more than 5,000 spring chinook were counted at Bonneville Dam, and the one-day count Sunday was 1,000.

"For this early in the season we are seeing pretty good numbers of fish at Bonneville," Hymer said. "We saw a couple spring chinook caught at Drano Lake."

The Wind River and White Salmon River were turbid last weekend, resulting in poor fishing conditions.

Spring chinook fishing in the Willamette River should improve as the river drops and clears up. Places to try are Multnomah Channel and the Sellwood area.