Dalles Pool closing to sturgeon retention

OLYMPIA – The section of the Columbia River between The Dalles Dam and John Day Dam – commonly known as the Dalles Pool – will close to white sturgeon retention effective 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, state fishery managers announced.

Sturgeon retention opened on several portions of the Columbia River on Jan. 1. Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington agreed to close the Dalles Pool to retention of white sturgeon after a strong opening weekend of fishing, which resulted in the 135-fish quota being quickly met.

“This is an increasingly popular fishery, and we’ve hit the quota quickly in recent years,” said Laura Heironimus, sturgeon lead with WDFW. “While it’s unfortunate to see the fishery close so soon after opening, it’s critical that we follow the agreed-upon catch guidelines to ensure the continued survival of these remarkable fish in the Columbia River.”

The Dalles Pool remains open for catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon, as do many other stretches of the Columbia. In addition, the Bonneville Pool (between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam), and the John Day Pool (between John Day Dam and McNary Dam) remain open to sturgeon retention.

By the end of the day Sunday, Jan. 3, anglers had kept an estimated 199 sturgeon from the 500-fish guideline in the Bonneville Pool, and an estimated 15 sturgeon from the 105-fish guideline for the John Day Pool.

Anglers should consult the 2020-21 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations for permanent regulations, and keep an eye out for any emergency rule updates – including additional sturgeon closures in the other pools – at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/.

WDFW is the primary state agency tasked with preserving, protecting, and perpetuating fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing and hunting opportunities.