Columbia River - below Bonneville Dam spring chinook sport fishing season re-opens

May 13, 2011

May 13, 2011

Columbia River – below Bonneville Dam
spring chinook sport fishing season re-opens

Action: Re-opens the mainstem Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam for spring chinook angling.

Species affected: Spring chinook, steelhead and sockeye.

Location: Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to Beacon Rock is open for boat and bank fishing. Beacon Rock upstream to 600 feet below the fish ladder at the new Bonneville Dam powerhouse is open to bank fishing only. Beacon Rock boundary is defined as a line projected from a sign posted on a dock on the Oregon shoreline across to the exposed downstream end of Pierce Island, then across to a sign posted on the Washington shoreline at Beacon Rock.

Effective date: May 15 through June 15, 2011

Daily bag limit: Daily salmonid limit is 6 fish (hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead or sockeye), of which no more than 2 may be adults and no more than one may be an adult chinook. Release all wild chinook and wild steelhead. Sockeye count toward the daily adult salmonid limit. Salmon minimum size is 12-inches.

Additional rules: It is unlawful when fishing from vessels which are less than 30 feet in length, substantiated by Coast Guard documentation or Marine Board registration, to totally remove from the water any salmon or steelhead required to be released.

Anglers may not possess in the field fish mutilated so that size, species or fin clip cannot be determined until anglers have reached their automobile or principle means of land transportation and have completed their daily angling.

In Deep River (Wahkiakum County) the hatchery adult chinook daily limit will be the same as the adjacent mainstem Columbia River when the mainstem Columbia River is open for adult chinook retention. When the adjacent mainstem Columbia River is closed for adult chinook retention, the salmon daily limit will revert to permanent rules for Deep River.

Reason for action: There are upriver fish remaining on the harvest guideline for the area downstream of Bonneville Dam, based on the forecasts and management agreements.

Information contact: (360) 696-6211. For latest information press *1010.


Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at 360-902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call toll free 866-880-5431.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.