June 5, 2025
Action: Extends 2025 spring Chinook salmon seasons downstream of Bonneville Dam, allows boat angling from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam and increases the daily adult Chinook salmon limit upstream and downstream of Bonneville Dam.
Species affected: Spring Chinook salmon, hatchery steelhead.
Locations, dates, and rules:
Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point (a line from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to Red Navigation Marker 2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon bank) upstream to Bonneville Dam:
Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines (approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam):
- June 6-June 15:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit is six, up to two adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook salmon. Release wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
- Fishing from a vessel is prohibited. Bank angling with hand-cast lines only.
Columbia River from the Tower Island power lines to The Dalles Dam:
- June 6-June 15:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit is six, up to two adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook salmon. Release wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
Columbia River from a line starting from a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approximately 1,300 feet upstream of the Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected easterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington southern shore located approximately 200 feet above the fish ladder exit upstream to Highway 730 at the Washington/Oregon border:
- June 6-June 15:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit is six, up to two adults. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook salmon. Release wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
Reason for action: The U.S. v. OR Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) updated the Columbia River upriver spring Chinook salmon return on June 2 to 153,800 compared to the pre-season forecast of 122,500. Recreational fisheries downstream of the Washington/Oregon border has sufficient remaining allocation of upriver spring Chinook salmon Endangered Species Act impacts to allow for additional harvest opportunities and is consistent with Joint State Action taken on June 4, 2025. The fisheries are set within allowable catch levels for upriver spring Chinook salmon and to minimize impacts to other stocks of concern.
Additional information: All other permanent rules apply, including year-round closure areas as listed in the 2024-2025 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.
Staff will monitor the fishery in-season to determine if additional fishing opportunity is warranted.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website prior to fishing. Refer to the 2024-25 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for additional fishing rules.
Information contact: Southwest Region, 360-696-6211.