Columbia Regs Confusion

[Up-4-Air]

When and where is the Columbia open for spring chinook?

The regulatiuons say from Rocky Pt to I5 it's open for chinook with an adipose fin from Jan 1 to Mar 31 and from Aug 1 to Dec 31. From I5 to Bonneville and from Bonneville to McNary it's open for chinook with an adipose fin from Aug 1 to Dec 31.

I would like to fish above I5 and above Bonneville for springers but I don't know when or if these areas will be open this year.

According to the regs I can keep chinook in the Columbia up to Mar 31 with an adipose fin. The March 12 change from adipose to adipose clipped must apply to the Willamette and not the Columbia.

Am I the only one in the dark on this?

[WheresMyBobber]

My understanding is the special regulations allow spring chinook fishing (for clipped fish) above the I5 bridge from March 12 through April "or until it is closed due because of the ESA impact". This isn't the official language, but I think it's correct. If I'm wrong, hopefully somebody will correct me.

[RKB]

FISHING RULE CHANGE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

March 9, 2001


Anglers may keep adipose fin-clipped
hatchery spring chinook on the lower
mainstem Columbia through April

Action: Anglers on the mainstem Columbia from the mouth upstream to Bonneville Dam will be able to keep adipose fin-clipped chinook, adipose fin clipped steelhead, and shad from March 12 through April 30. The adipose fin-clipped fish must have a healed scar at the location of the missing fin. Anglers will be able to keep up to 6 adipose fin clipped chinook, no more than of which 2 may be adults (over 24" in length). Minimum size is 12". In addition, anglers will be allowed to keep 2 adipose fin clipped steelhead, minimum size 20". All chinook and steelhead with adipose fins intact must be immediately released unharmed. There is no limit for shad in Washington.

Effective date: The Fishing Rule Change will be in effect from March 12 through April 30.

Through March 11, the mainstem Columbia from the I-5 Bridge downstream is open to fishing for salmon and hatchery steelhead under permanent regulations.

Species affected: Hatchery spring chinook, hatchery steelhead and shad.

Location: The mainstem Columbia from the Buoy 10 line upstream to 600 feet below the fish ladder at the new Bonneville Dam powerhouse.

Reason for action: This year's upper Columbia River spring chinook return is expected to be 364,600, the largest run since records began with the construction of Bonneville Dam in 1938.

Other Information: The Columbia River Treaty tribes and the states of Washington and Oregon and the federal agencies recently reached an agreement on an unprecedented multi-year plan that established conservation goals for weak wild salmon stocks on the Columbia and Snake rivers. With the use of selective sport fishery option, conservation goals to rebuild weak wild stocks will be met while allowing harvest of hatchery origin spring chinook. This year's strong return should offer the best sport fishing opportunity for spring chinook in the lower mainstem Columbia since the late 1970s.

Information contact: Cindy LeFleur, (360) 906-6708


Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license. Check the 2000 Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing regulations 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 (360) 796-3215. Be aware that Catch Record Card River codes changed April 2000. New Area codes are found on pages 10 & 20 of the "Fishing in Washington" pamphlet.
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[fishuntr2]

So how about oregon regs? Seems like they should be similar to Washington. I have visited ODFW online but can't find an answer, except that there doesn't appear to be a salmon season in the main river after march 31. Still confused.