Lower Columbia River salmon and steelhead fishery update

June 10, 2021

Action: Extends spring Chinook retention season, increases adult Chinook daily limit and reduces steelhead daily limit.

Species affected: Salmon and steelhead.

Effective Date: June 12 through July 31, 2021.

Locations, dates, and rules:

1. From the Megler-Astoria Bridge upstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line:

Jun. 16 - Jul. 5: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jul. 6 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

2. From the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to a line starting from a point on the Washington shore projected through Dolphin Marker J (near Shipping Terminal 9), southerly across the Columbia River to Columbia Park Boat Ramp in Rainier, Oregon:

June 10 - June 11: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

June 12 - June 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 5: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jul. 6 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

3. From line starting from a point on the Washington shore projected through Dolphin Marker J (near Shipping Terminal 9), southerly across the Columbia River to Columbia Park Boat Ramp in Rainier, Oregon upstream to a line projected from a point on the Washington shore projected through Cottonwood Island Dike Light "31", southerly across the Columbia River to a deadline marker on the Oregon shore and including the waters of Carrolls Channel (waters beginning at the upstream end of Cottonwood Island downstream to the confluence of the Cowlitz River):

June 10 - June 11: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead. Fishing for salmon and steelhead from a vessel is prohibited.

June 12 - June 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead. Fishing for salmon and steelhead from a vessel is prohibited.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 5: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jul. 6 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

4. From a line starting from a point on the Washington shore projected through Cottonwood Island Dike Light "31", southerly across the Columbia River to a deadline marker on the Oregon shore and including the waters of Carrolls Channel (waters beginning at the upstream end of Cottonwood Island downstream to the confluence of the Cowlitz River) upstream to the I-5 Bridge:

June 10 - June 11: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

June 12 - June 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 5: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jul. 6 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

5. From the I-5 Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam:

June 10 - June 11: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 1 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

June 12 - June 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 5: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jul. 6 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

6. From Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island Power lines:

Jun. 12 - Jun. 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead. Bank angling with hand-cast lines only.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

7. From the Tower Island Power lines to The Dalles Dam:

Jun. 12 - Jun. 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

8. From The Dalles Dam to a line starting at a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approximately 1300' upstream of The Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected southeasterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington south shore located approximately 200' above the fish ladder exit:

June 10, until further notice: Closed to fishing for and retention of salmon and steelhead

9. From a line starting at a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approximately 1300’ upstream of The Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected southeasterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington south shore located approximately 200’ above the fish ladder exit to Hwy. 730 at the Washington and Oregon border

Jun. 12 - Jun. 15: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained of which up to 2 may be a Chinook and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Jun. 16 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

10. From Hwy. 730 at the Washington and Oregon border to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco:

Jun. 16 - Jul. 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a sockeye and up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and sockeye. Salmon min. size 12". Release wild steelhead.

Reason for action: The U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee recently updated the 2021 Columbia River spring Chinook return to 91,800, which was previously forecasted to be 87,000. The upriver Skamania stock steelhead passage at Bonneville Dam is currently the lowest cumulative count to-date. Additional spring Chinook directed angling opportunities are available while providing additional protection for steelhead with a reduced steelhead daily limit. This action also applies summer fishery regulations developed through the 2021 North of Falcon season setting process.

Additional information: Anglers are reminded that barbless hooks are required for salmon and steelhead downstream of the Washington/Oregon border at Hwy. 730. All other permanent regulations apply.

Information contact: Region 5: 360-696-6211; Region 3: 509-575-2740

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.