Snake River spring chinook fishery to re-open

May 26, 2011

Action: Spring chinook fishing on the Snake River will re-open Saturday, May 28, in the Little Goose and Clarkston areas for six days.

Species affected: Spring chinook

Locations:

A) Railroad Bridge approximately 1/2 mile downstream of Tucannon River mouth, up-river about 9 miles to the Corps of Engineers boat launch approximately 1 mile upstream of Little Goose Dam (along the south shoreline). This zone includes the 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);

B) From the intersection of Steptoe Canyon Road with the Hwy 193 (Snake River Road) in Whitman County up-river about 12 miles to the Idaho state line that runs from the north termination of the rock levee on the east side of the Greenbelt boat launch (near the US Army Corps of Engineers Office) northwest across the Snake River to the Idaho/Washington marker on the north shore in Whitman County.

Dates: May 28, 2011 through June 2, 2011.

Reason for action: There are upriver fish remaining on the harvest guideline for the non-Indian recreational fisheries, based on current forecasts and management agreements.

Daily Limit: Only 2 adipose clipped spring chinook adults and 4 adipose clipped jacks can be retained in these fisheries. EXCEPTION: the shoreline 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). The daily bag limit for this limited area is one jack and one adult. For areas open, fishing for Chinook must cease as soon as the adult Chinook daily limit is retained.

Other Information: The minimum size of any retained chinook is 12 inches. Jacks are less than 24 inches long. The adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. All chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed.

In addition: anglers fishing for all species in these areas of the Snake River during the salmon fishery; barbless hooks only when fishing for all species, and only single barbless hooks are allowed when fishing for sturgeon.
Night closure in effect for salmon and sturgeon, and 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 or steelhead from the water unless it is retained as part of the daily bag limit.

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.