Tough season for Columbia river tribal fishermen

Tough season for Columbia river tribal fishermen

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Story Published: Sep 16, 2007 at 1:01 PM PST

Story Updated: Aug 14, 2008 at 4:05 PM PST

By Thom Jensen and KATU Web Staff

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FORT RAINS, Wash. - It has been one of the toughest seasons on record for Columbia River tribal fishermen.

Early forecasts said the Columbia River waters would hold as many as 250,000 fall Chinook this year. That estimate has now been cut in half.

In a good year tribal members say they'll get as many as a dozen fish in a net every night. This year they say they're lucky if they get two.

"It's been not as good as we expected," said Tom Rodriguez, a Umatilla tribal member. "This week was supposed to be a big week for the fish to come over, but it just didn't happen."

The tribes will soon start looking toward the spring. Biologists say the Columbia's spring run could be one of the best in the past 20 years.

You can still buy fresh fall run salmon and steelhead from tribal fishermen at roadside markets on the Columbia. One of the largest is next to the Bridge of the Gods at Cascade Locks.

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