Salmon fishing rules to change in Lewis, Kalama

State officials have announced changes to the spring chinook fishing regulations effective Thursday on the Kalama and Lewis rivers.

Chinook must be released in the Lewis River from the mouth upstream to the power lines downstream of Merwin Dam.

The forecast is for a return of 1,100 spring chinook to the Lewis River in 2016.

The hatchery system needs about 1,350 chinook.

The river will remain open for steelhead fishing, except from Johnson Creek upstream to Merwin Dam is closed to all fishing in May.

The daily limit on the Kalama River will increase to two adult hatchery-origin spring chinook.

State biologists are forecasting a return of 4,900 adult spring chinook to the stream this year.

The hatchery goal is 400 salmon.