May 14, 2014
May 14, 2014
Portions of Snake River spring chinook fisheries to close; upper fisheries extended
Action / Species affected: Spring chinook salmon fishing closes on the Snake River below Ice Harbor and Little Goose dams, but in the Lower Granite and Clarkston areas the days open per week is expanded to include full weekends.
Locations to close effective May 14, 2014:
A) Below Ice Harbor: Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam;
B) Below Little Goose (Thursday through Saturday was open): Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone includes the rock and concrete area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (includes the walkway area locally known as "the Wall" in front of the juvenile collection facility);
Areas to remain open:
C) Below Lower Granite Dam: Snake River from the south shore boat launch (Ilia Boat Launch) across to the mouth of Almota Creek upstream about four miles to the restricted fishing area below Lower Granite Dam.
D) Clarkston: Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream about 3.5 miles to the Washington state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA / ID boundary waters marker on the Whitman County shore).
Dates for areas that remain open: Each of these two areas is now open four days per week, until further notice.
Area D (Clarkston) will continue to remain open Thursday through Saturday, plus it now includes Sunday, each week.
Area C (below Lower Granite Dam) continues to remain open Sunday through Tuesday each week, plus Saturday (starting May 17) will now be open, each week.
Daily Limits: 6 hatchery chinook (adipose fin clipped), of which no more than one may be an adult chinook salmon. For all areas open for chinook salmon harvest, anglers must cease fishing when the hatchery adult limit has been retained for the day.
Reason for action: Based on the current harvest estimates and anticipated harvest through Tuesday of this week, about 900-1,000 adult hatchery chinook are expected to have been harvested. In an effort to share the fisheries with the upper areas, the lower two areas (where most harvest has occurred) will close and the upper two areas, where few fish have been harvested, will remain open until further notice.
Other Information: The minimum size of any retained chinook salmon is 12 inches. Jacks are less than 24 inches long. The adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon that can be retained must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All chinook salmon with the adipose fin intact, and all bull trout and steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed.
In addition: Anglers fishing for all species, in the areas open for chinook salmon, during the days of the week the salmon fishery is open in that area, must use barbless hooks. Only single point barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
A night closure is in effect for salmon and sturgeon. It shall be unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8 inch (point of hook to shank) when fishing for all species except sturgeon. Anglers cannot remove any chinook salmon or steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit.
Anglers are reminded to refer to the 2014/2015 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for other regulations, including safety closures, CLOSED WATERS, etc.
Information contact: John Whalen, Region 1 Fish Program Manager,
(509) 892-7861.
Portions of Snake River spring chinook fisheries to close; upper fisheries extended
Action / Species affected: Spring chinook salmon fishing closes on the Snake River below Ice Harbor and Little Goose dams, but in the Lower Granite and Clarkston areas the days open per week is expanded to include full weekends.
Locations to close effective May 14, 2014:
A) Below Ice Harbor: Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing restriction boundary below Ice Harbor Dam;
B) Below Little Goose (Thursday through Saturday was open): Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing restriction boundary below Little Goose Dam. This zone includes the rock and concrete area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility (includes the walkway area locally known as "the Wall" in front of the juvenile collection facility);
Areas to remain open:
C) Below Lower Granite Dam: Snake River from the south shore boat launch (Ilia Boat Launch) across to the mouth of Almota Creek upstream about four miles to the restricted fishing area below Lower Granite Dam.
D) Clarkston: Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore) upstream about 3.5 miles to the Washington state line (from the east levee of the Greenbelt boat launch in Clarkston northwest across the Snake River to the WA / ID boundary waters marker on the Whitman County shore).
Dates for areas that remain open: Each of these two areas is now open four days per week, until further notice.
Area D (Clarkston) will continue to remain open Thursday through Saturday, plus it now includes Sunday, each week.
Area C (below Lower Granite Dam) continues to remain open Sunday through Tuesday each week, plus Saturday (starting May 17) will now be open, each week.
Daily Limits: 6 hatchery chinook (adipose fin clipped), of which no more than one may be an adult chinook salmon. For all areas open for chinook salmon harvest, anglers must cease fishing when the hatchery adult limit has been retained for the day.
Reason for action: Based on the current harvest estimates and anticipated harvest through Tuesday of this week, about 900-1,000 adult hatchery chinook are expected to have been harvested. In an effort to share the fisheries with the upper areas, the lower two areas (where most harvest has occurred) will close and the upper two areas, where few fish have been harvested, will remain open until further notice.
Other Information: The minimum size of any retained chinook salmon is 12 inches. Jacks are less than 24 inches long. The adipose fin-clipped chinook salmon that can be retained must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All chinook salmon with the adipose fin intact, and all bull trout and steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed.
In addition: Anglers fishing for all species, in the areas open for chinook salmon, during the days of the week the salmon fishery is open in that area, must use barbless hooks. Only single point barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
A night closure is in effect for salmon and sturgeon. It shall be unlawful to use any hook larger than 5/8 inch (point of hook to shank) when fishing for all species except sturgeon. Anglers cannot remove any chinook salmon or steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit.
Anglers are reminded to refer to the 2014/2015 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for other regulations, including safety closures, CLOSED WATERS, etc.
Information contact: John Whalen, Region 1 Fish Program Manager,
(509) 892-7861.