Sturgeon retention will resume Oct, 1

State officials have added three days to the sturgeon retention season in the Columbia River.

Anglers will be able to keep legal-size fish on Oct. 1, Oct. 6 and Oct. 7. The retention season had been scheduled to reopen on Oct. 8.

Retention will be allowed between the Wauna power lines near Cathlamet and Bonneville Dam on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

The lower Willamette River upstream to Willamette Falls will not reopen for retention. That fishery exceeded its allocation in 12 days of late February and early March.

Anglers upstream of Wauna power lines have 2,626 sturgeon remaining on their allocation for 2011. Through July, sportsmen kept just 784 fish from 16,806 fishing trips,

The harvest during October to December in 2009 and 2010 averaged 2,408 sturgeon.