Washington license / Oregon launch

[PapaHog]

Washington license / Oregon launch

I read something about this a while back but never figured I would need this information so it went in one ear and out the other.

Well my brother from Spokane will visit at the end of the month and I so now this information becomes relevant. He has a Washington license and we will be launching at Hammond. Does he need an Oregon 3 day license or will his Washington license keep out of trouble with the game enforcement people. :whazzup:

Thank you in advance for answering this question.
papa

[snit]

I've done it many times before...unless it's changed this year he only needs a license from either state, and it doesn't matter which state he launches from. I belive it's called reciprocity.

[freespool]

Either license in good in the mainstem Columbia River, which is used as the border of the two states. Also if you have a license in both states, you can use either, but not both at the same time.



salmon hugger

[BARCHASER]

Awhile back I sent ODFW an email just to confirm this, copy as follows:


From: "odfw info" <Odfw.Info@state.or.us> [Add to Address Book] [View Source]
To: <>
Subject: RE: Fishing the Columbia
Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2005 19:05:38 +0000


Gary,

You are correct. And yes, the reverse applies.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 5:28 PM
To: odfw info
Subject: Fishing the Columbia


Dear Sir/Madam

I live in Seattle and fish the Columbia on occasion. I have heard and would like to confirm if I can launch in Oregon (Rainer for example), fish the Columbia, return to the Oregon ramp and do so using my Washington license without buying an Oregon license/permit. Do you know if the reverse is also true?

Thank you

[Bounty Hunter]

I believe the above rules hold true unless someone is a non-resident of either state. Then you need to have a license from the state you are launching out of.

[Starfish]

I believe the above rules hold true unless someone is a non-resident of either state. Then you need to have a license from the state you are launching out of.

This one surprised me since it appears only in the Oregon regs and not in Washington. Here is the Oregon version:

Regulations for this zone:
1. In the Columbia River where it forms the state boundary line, not including tributaries, sloughs and lands, the following rules apply:
a. License and tags of either state are valid except when the other state’s season is closed;
b. Anglers must follow the rules of the state in which they are fishing;
c. Anglers are restricted to one daily catch and one annual sturgeon catch limit from the Columbia River, even if licensed in Oregon and Washington;
d. Anglers that are residents of either Oregon or Washington may launch or take out their boats from either shore, regardless of which state license
they hold;
e. Anglers that are not a resident of either Oregon or Washington must possess a nonresident license for the state in which they are landing.

Below is a quote from the Washington fishing regulations... no mention of a restriction on residency, it just says either license is valid.

COLUMBIA RIVER – where the river coincides with the boundary between Washington and Oregon, the license of either state is valid.
Anglers must comply with the laws of the state in which they are fi shing. An angler licensed only in Oregon may not fi sh on the Washington shore
or in Washington sloughs or tributaries. An angler fi shing the Columbia River is restricted to one daily limit even if licensed by both states. Anglers
may fi sh with either a saltwater, freshwater, or combination license in the waters of the Columbia River between a line from Rocky Point, on the
Washington shore, to Tongue Point, on the Oregon shore, and the Buoy 10 line described on the next page. For STURGEON rules in the Columbia
River tributaries, see rules for adjoining mainstem waters. For bottomfi sh and forage fi sh rules, see the Marine Area 1 General Rules.

So... if your buddies from out of state are coming, get an Oregon license and you can probably land on either side.