State opens waters below The Dalles Dam to fishermen

Effective date:

Through May 15, or until the upriver impact guideline is reached.

Species affected:

Spring chinook, steelhead and shad.

Location: The Columbia River from The Dalles Dam downstream six miles to the Tower Island power lines.

Reason for action:

A management agreement for spring chinook, signed in 2001, allows for selective fishing for adipose fin-clipped spring chinook in the Columbia River, while minimizing impacts on protected wild fish. The area below The Dalles Dam provides anglers the opportunity to fish in a section of the Bonneville Pool that won't conflict with non-selective fisheries occurring in tributaries to the lower Bonneville Pool.

Other information:

The Columbia River is currently open to fishing below Bonneville Dam, in The Dalles Pool and John Day Pool. All areas could close prior to May 15 if the impact guideline on upriver spring chinook is reached sooner than expected.

The daily limit for salmon is six fish, no more than two adults, and a minimum size of 12 inches. The daily limit for trout, including hatchery steelhead, is two fish, with a minimum size of 12 inches.

Wild steelhead must be released, and wild cutthroat must be released below Bonneville Dam. There is no daily limit for shad in Washington.

Check the WDFW 2001 "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet or the Fishing section of the WDFW Web page at www.wa.gov/wdfw 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.