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Spring Chinook Fishing Opens Thursday Above Bonneville Dam by Staff East Oregonian, May 27, 2015

Spring chinook fishing season has reopened on the Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border.

Fisheries managers announced they will reopen the Mid-Columbia based on stronger-than-predicted returns from the Pacific Ocean. In January, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife forecasted a return of 232,500 salmon and set the spring season for March 16 through May 6. The season was already extended once through May 10, and as of Monday, the run is now up to 260,000 fish.

"We've gained almost 30,000 fish, which allows for more flexibility," said John North, Columbia River fisheries manager for ODFW. "It's all based on the actual run size."

Anglers can keep two adult fin-clipped salmon or steelhead per day, but only one may be a chinook. Sockeye may not be kept until the summer season opens on June 16. In addition, fishing is limited to the riverbanks only on both sides of the Columbia from Bonneville Dam to the Tower Island power lines, which are located about six miles below The Dalles Dam.

On June 3, ODFW will also close the John Day Pool of the Columbia to retention of white sturgeon. Catch and release for sturgeon will still be allowed, except in the species spawning sanctuary that runs from McNary Dam to the Interstate 82 bridge.