May 30, 2014
Action: Spring chinook salmon fishing reopens on the Snake River.
Species affected: Chinook salmon
Locations:
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: 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);
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: Each area is open three days per week until further notice.
Areas B and D (Below Little Goose Dam and near Clarkston) opens Thursday, June 5 through Saturday each week until further notice.
Areas A and C (Below Ice Harbor Dam, and below Lower Granite Dam) opens Sunday, June 1, and will be open only Sunday through Tuesday each week until further notice.
Daily Limits: 6 hatchery chinook (adipose fin clipped), of which no more than two may be adult chinook salmon (note: no exception for the area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility also locally known as “the Wall” in front of the juvenile collection facility). 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 May 27 updated in-season run prediction, and a recent upstream shift of harvest allocation from the lower Columbia River, spring chinook fisheries can reopen in the Snake River on schedules similar to earlier in May (for three days per week per zone), but the daily limit can be increased to try and achieve the new harvest allocation. This new daily limit should help increase harvest during recent high water and declining numbers of chinook passing through the dams. The fishing schedule helps ensure sharing of fishing opportunities with upriver fishery zones, and helps to ensure that the fisheries comply with Endangered Species Act (ESA) restrictions and harvest allocations available for the Snake River.
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) 892-1001
Species affected: Chinook salmon
Locations:
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: 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);
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: Each area is open three days per week until further notice.
Areas B and D (Below Little Goose Dam and near Clarkston) opens Thursday, June 5 through Saturday each week until further notice.
Areas A and C (Below Ice Harbor Dam, and below Lower Granite Dam) opens Sunday, June 1, and will be open only Sunday through Tuesday each week until further notice.
Daily Limits: 6 hatchery chinook (adipose fin clipped), of which no more than two may be adult chinook salmon (note: no exception for the area between the juvenile bypass return pipe and Little Goose Dam along the south shoreline of the facility also locally known as “the Wall” in front of the juvenile collection facility). 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 May 27 updated in-season run prediction, and a recent upstream shift of harvest allocation from the lower Columbia River, spring chinook fisheries can reopen in the Snake River on schedules similar to earlier in May (for three days per week per zone), but the daily limit can be increased to try and achieve the new harvest allocation. This new daily limit should help increase harvest during recent high water and declining numbers of chinook passing through the dams. The fishing schedule helps ensure sharing of fishing opportunities with upriver fishery zones, and helps to ensure that the fisheries comply with Endangered Species Act (ESA) restrictions and harvest allocations available for the Snake River.
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) 892-1001