This is a press release courtesy of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife today announced the upcoming summer and fall salmon seasons for the Columbia River, including the popular Buoy 10 fishery. While many ocean salmon fishing opportunities have been severely constrained for 2008, opportunities in the Columbia River remain comparatively stable.

Public discussion of summer and fall Columbia River salmon seasons took place during the spring meetings of the Pacific Fishery Management Council. While much of the talk at PFMC meetings this year was about the ocean salmon seasons, participants in the public process did help fish managers craft the following recreational fisheries for the summer and fall seasons (including remaining spring seasons where applicable).

Buoy 10 upstream to Tongue Point

• Open for shad May 16 – December 31
• Open for adipose fin-clipped adult coho (>16”) and adipose fin-clipped steelhead August 1 – December 31. Daily bag limit is two salmonids.
• Adult chinook (>24”) retention allowed August 1 – September 1, or until a quota of 6,000 kept chinook is reached. Daily bag limit is two salmonids, but only one may be a chinook. Chinook may be fin-clipped or not. 
  

Mainstem Columbia River from Tongue Point upstream to Bonneville Dam

• Open for shad May 16 – December 31
• Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead May 16 – December 31 in the area below the I-5 Bridge and June 16 – December 31 in the area between the I-5 Bridge and Bonneville Dam. Daily bag limit is two salmonids.
• Open for chinook salmon adults June 21 – June 28 and for chinook jacks June 16 – December 31. Daily bag limit is two adult salmonids and five jacks. Chinook adults and jacks may be fin-clipped or not.
• Open for chinook salmon adults (fin clipped or not) September 1 – 16 except in the area between a line projected from Bachelor Island, Washington shore across to the Warrior Rock Lighthouse, Oregon shore downstream to a line projected from red navigation marker #62 at Deer Island, Oregon shore across to green navigation marker #63 at Martin Island, Washington shore, where retention of all chinook (adults and jacks) will be prohibited from August 1 – December 31. This area encompasses river miles 79-88, approximately. Open for adipose fin-clipped coho and chinook jacks (fin-clipped or not) August 1 – December 31. In open areas/periods, daily bag limit is two adult salmonids, but only one may be a chinook. Anglers may also retain up to five jack salmon. 

Mainstem Columbia River above Bonneville Dam 

• Open for shad year round
• Open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead June 16 – December 31. Daily bag limit is two salmonids.
• Open for chinook salmon adults and jacks June 16 – July 31, or until guideline is met. Daily bag limit is two adult salmonids and five jacks. Chinook adults and jacks may be fin-clipped or not.
• Open for chinook salmon (adults and jacks) and coho salmon August 1 – December 31.  Daily bag limit is two adult salmonids and five jacks. Chinook adults and jacks may be fin-clipped or not. Coho retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be adipose fin-clipped.

Notable changes for this year’s season include the closure for chinook retention in the lower river to help protect escapement of lower river wild fall chinook headed for the Lewis River, and the limitation to chinook fishing time in the mainstem Columbia below Bonneville Dam to limit impacts on the federally-listed upriver bright (URB) fall chinook stocks.  

As in all Columbia River salmon seasons, anglers should be aware that emergency action may be taken to alter any of the above seasons on relatively short notice. Anglers are advised to keep up to date with the latest regulations by going to ODFW’s regulations website or by calling (503) 647-6000. 

The mission of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is to protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. Headquartered in Salem, ODFW has regional offices in Clackamas, Roseburg, Bend, and La Grande with ten district offices located throughout the state. For additional information, please visit www.dfw.state.or.us.