Additional information about Columbia River fisheries and management, including joint-state staff reports, pre-season fishing plans, forecasts, and returns.
Reporting
2025
Joint State Staff Reports
The 2025 Joint State Staff Reports will be posted as soon as they become available.
Forecasts and returns
- Columbia River 2024 returns and 2025 expectations - Updated: Dec. 20, 2024 (PDF)
- Columbia River adult salmon (spring/summer) 2024 returns and 2025 forecasts (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers adult spring Chinook 2024 returns and 2025 forecasts (PDF)
- Wind River, Drano Lake, Klickitat River adult spring Chinook 2024 returns and 2025 forecasts (PDF)
Fishery plans
The 2025 Columbia River fishery plans will be posted as soon as they become available.
2024
Joint State Staff Reports
July 5, 2024 (PDF)
2024 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 1, 2024 (PDF)
2024 Joint Staff Report: Stock status and fisheries for spring Chinook, summer Chinook, sockeye, steelhead, and other species
January 12, 2024 (PDF)
2024 Joint Staff Report: Stock status and fisheries for sturgeon and smelt
Other information
- 2024 non-treaty Columbia River summer/fall fishery plan (PDF)
- Columbia River spring/summer/fall 2024 forecasts and 2023 returns (PDF)
- Columbia River 2024 fall Chinook forecast (PDF)
- Columbia River fall Chinook preliminary 2023 returns and outlook for 2024 (PDF)
- Columbia River 2023 returns and 2024 expectations, draft updated January 9, 2024 (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers adult spring Chinook 2024 forecasts and 2023 returns (PDF)
- Wind River, Drano Lake, Klickitat River adult spring Chinook 2024 forecasts and 2023 returns (PDF)
2023
Joint State Staff Reports
July 10, 2023 (PDF)
2023 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 2, 2023 (PDF)
2023 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
January 13, 2023 (PDF)
2023 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
- 2023 non-treaty Columbia River summer/fall fishery plan (PDF)
- Columbia River angler opinion survey results (PDF)
- 2023 Columbia River Fall Chinook forecast (PDF)
- Columbia River fall salmon preliminary 2022 returns and outlook for 2023 (PDF)
- 2023 Columbia River spring/summer/fall forecasts (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis River Spring Chinook Fact Sheet, January 2023 (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers adult spring Chinook 2023 forecasts and 2022 returns (PDF)
- Wind River, Drano Lake, Klickitat River adult spring Chinook 2023 forecasts and 2022 returns (PDF)
- Columbia River 2022 returns and 2023 expectations (PDF)
2022
Joint state staff reports
July 19, 2022 (PDF)
2022 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 3, 2022 (PDF)
2022 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries For Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
January 14, 2022 (PDF)
2022 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
- 2022 Non-treaty Columbia River summer/fall fishery plan (PDF)
- 2022 Columbia River fall Chinook February forecast (PDF)
- 2022 Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis River Spring Chinook Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Columbia River fall salmon preliminary 2021 returns and outlook for 2022 (PDF)
- Columbia River 2021 Adult Returns and 2022 Expectations (PDF)
- 2022 Columbia River spring/summer/fall forecasts (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers adult spring Chinook 2021 forecasts and returns (PDF)
- Wind River, Drano Lake, Klickitat River adult spring Chinook 2021 forecasts and returns (PDF)
2021
Joint state staff reports
July 19, 2021 (PDF)
2021 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 4, 2021 (PDF)
2021 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries For Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
January 14, 2021 (PDF)
2021 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
- 2021 Non-Treaty Columbia River Summer/Fall Fishery Plan (PDF)
- Columbia River Adult Salmon Returns: Actual and Forecasted (PDF)
- 2021 Spring-Summer Forecasts (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis Adult Spring Chinook 2020 Forecasts and Returns, and 2021 Run Forecasts (PDF)
- Wind River, Drano Lake (Little White Salmon R.), and Klickitat River Adult Spring Chinook 2020 Forecasts and Returns, and 2021 Run Forecasts (PDF)
- Columbia River 2020 Results and 2021 Expectations (PDF)
2020
Joint state staff reports
July 22, 2020 (PDF)
2020 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries For Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 7, 2020 (PDF)
2020 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries For Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
January 17, 2020 (PDF)
2020 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
- 2020 Non-Treaty Columbia River Summer/Fall Fishery Plan (PDF)
- Columbia River Adult Salmon Returns: Actual and Forecasted (PDF)
- Wind River, Drano Lake (Little White Salmon R.), And Klickitat River Adult Spring Chinook 2019 Forecasts And Returns, And 2020 Run Forecasts (PDF)
- Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis Adult Spring Chinook 2019 Forecasts And Returns, And 2020 Run Forecasts (PDF)
- Columbia River Fall Chinook 2019 Preliminary Returns And Outlook For 2020 (PDF)
- Columbia River 2020 spring-summer forecasts (PDF)
2019
Joint state staff reports
June 22, 2019
2019 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 8, 2019
2019 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
January 18, 2019
2019 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
2018
Joint state staff reports
July 17, 2018
2018 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
February 20, 2018
2018 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
January 18, 2018
2018 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
2017
Joint state staff reports
January 30, 2017
2017 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
September 7, 2017
2017 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
November 9, 2017
2017 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook,Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species
Other information
- September 14, 2017 (PDF) - Expected numbers of observers for non-treaty commercial fishery openers
- 2017 Non-treaty Columbia River commercial Zone 4/5 observation summary (PDF)
2016
Joint state staff reports
July 12, 2016
2016 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
January 20, 2016
2016 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species, and Miscellaneous Regulations
Other information
2015
Joint state staff reports
December 17, 2015
2016 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
July 14, 2015
2015 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
January 22, 2015
2015 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead and other Species and Miscellaneous Regulations
Other information
2014
Joint state staff reports
December 18, 2014
2015 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
July 14, 2014
2014 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
January 22, 2014
2014 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species, and Miscellaneous Regulations
January 21, 2014
2014 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
Other information
2013
Joint state staff reports
January 24, 2013
2013 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species, and Miscellaneous Regulations
January 15, 2013
2013 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
July 11, 2013
2013 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status And Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
Other information
2012
Joint state staff reports
July 12, 2012
2012 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead and White Sturgeon
January 20, 2012
2012 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species, and Miscellaneous Regulations
January 19, 2012
2012 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt
2011
Joint state staff reports
July 13, 2011
2011 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
January 27, 2011
2011 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species, and Miscellaneous Regulations
January 11, 2011
2011 Joint Staff Report concerning stock status and fisheries for sturgeon and smelt.
2010
Joint state staff reports
July 16, 2010
2010 Joint Staff Report Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chun Salmon Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon.
February 2, 2010
2010 Joint Staff Report Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, sockeye, Steelhead, and other Species and Miscellaneious Regulations.
2009
Joint state staff reports
December 7, 2009
2010 Joint Staff Report concerning stock status and fisheries for sturgeon and smelt.
July 16, 2009
2009 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon.
January 26, 2009
2009 Joint Staff Report Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, sockeye, Steelhead, and other Species and Miscellaneous Regulations.
2008
Joint state staff reports
December 9, 2008
2009 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt.
July 14, 2008
2008 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon
January 31, 2008
2008 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Other Species, and Miscellaneous Regulations
2007
Joint state staff reports
December 3, 2007
2008 Joint Staff Report Concerning Stock Status and Fisheries for Sturgeon and Smelt.
July 13, 2007
2007 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Fall Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, Summer Steelhead, and White Sturgeon.
January 12, 2007
2007 Joint Staff Report: Stock Status and Fisheries for Spring Chinook, Summer Chinook, Sockeye, Steelhead, and other species and miscellaneous regulations.
2006
Joint state staff reports
December 4, 2006
Joint Staff report describes sturgeon and smelt fisheries in the mainstem Columbia River and includes summaries of stock status, current management plans and guidelines, and past management actions and strategies. Additionally, this report contains information concerning smelt abundances and fisheries in Columbia River tributaries.
July 18, 2006
Joint staff report concerning the 2006 fall in-river commercial harvest of columbia river fall chinook salmon, summer steelhead, coho salmon, chum salmon, and sturgeon.
January 18, 2006
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons For Spring Chinook, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Shad, Smelt, and Other Species and Miscellaneous Regulations for 2006.
2005
Joint state staff reports
December 6, 2005
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Sturgeon and Smelt in 2006.
July 20, 2005
Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2005 Fall In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Sturgeon
January 14, 2005
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Spring Chinook, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Shad, Smelt, and other Species and Miscellaneous Regulations for 2005
2004
Joint state staff reports
December 3, 2004
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Sturgeon and Smelt in 2005
July 21, 2004
Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2004 Fall In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Sturgeon
February 2, 2004
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Spring Chinook, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Shad, Smelt, and other species and miscellaneous regulations for 2004
2003
Joint state staff reports
December 5, 2003
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Sturgeon and Smelt in 2004
July 16, 2003
Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2003 Fall In-River Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon and Sturgeon
January 23, 2003
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Spring Chinook, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Shad, Smelt, and Other Species and Miscellaneous Regulations for 2003
2002
Joint state staff reports
December 3, 2002
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Sturgeon and Smelt in 2003
July 18, 2002
Joint Staff Report Concerning 2002 Fall In-River Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, Chum Salmon, and Sturgeon
January 18, 2002
Joint Staff Report Concerning Commercial Seasons for Spring Chinook, Steelhead, Sturgeon, Shad, Smelt, and Other Species and Miscellaneous Regulations for 2002
2001
Joint state staff reports
August 2, 2001
Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2001 In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, and Sturgeon
2000
Joint state staff reports
July 13, 2000
Joint Staff Report Concerning the 2000 In-river Commercial Harvest of Columbia River Fall Chinook Salmon, Summer Steelhead, Coho Salmon, and Sturgeon