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Chinook Return Likely to be Smaller than 2010 by Staff Bellingham Herald, February 2, 2011

Northwest fish managers estimate about 198,400 chinook will return upstream of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River this year. Last year's forecast was 315,300.

Forecasters expect 66,400 hatchery fish and 24,700 wild fish to head up the Snake River to Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Last year's return was 134,300 hatchery fish and 35,600 wild fish.

Idaho fish managers estimate that 32,470 of this year's hatchery fish will cross Lower Granite Dam near Lewiston and return to Idaho rivers.

Last year, more than 38,000 hatchery salmon returned to Salmon River hatcheries and more than 13,000 returned to Clearwater hatcheries. Idaho fisheries managers expect to propose chinook fishing seasons in the Clearwater, Snake, Lower Salmon and Little Salmon rivers to the Idaho Fish and Game Commission in March. Chinook seasons have traditionally opened in late April.