Current and upcoming opportunities
The Columbia River from Buoy 10 to the Interstate-5 bridge is open to the retention of hatchery steelhead and hatchery Chinook through Saturday (Feb. 29). From the I-5 Bridge to the McNary Dam, open for hatchery steelhead.
Effective Sunday (March 1), spring Chinook angling will be open to both boat and bank anglers from Warrior Rock upstream to Beacon Rock. Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam will be open to bank angling only.
Effective Wednesday April 1, spring Chinook angling will be open from the Tower Island power lines upstream to the Oregon/Washington border, plus the banks between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island power lines.
White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to the John Day Dam but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing.
The John Day pool is open to the retention of white sturgeon until the quota is reached.
A few winter steelhead are available from Columbia River beaches, and in the tributaries.
Lowland lakes have been well-stocked with trout and are fishing very well.
Crappie fishing is good in Silver Lake.
Walleye are biting in the John Day Pool.
Salmon/Steelhead
Mainstem Columbia River
Section 5 (Woodland) — 11 bank anglers had no catch. One boat/one rod had no catch. (WDFW)
On Saturday’s (2/22) Oregon flight, there were nine salmonid boats and 42 Oregon bank anglers counted from Bonneville Dam to Longview.
John Day Pool — Three bank anglers kept one steelhead. (ODFW)
Columbia tributaries
Cowlitz River above the I-5 bridge — 26 bank rods kept one steelhead and released one steelhead. 55 boats/179 rods kept 70 steelhead and released 18 steelhead. (WDFW)
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam) — Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed no catch for two boats (seven anglers). (ODFW)
The Dalles Pool — Five bank anglers released six sublegal sturgeon. Four boats/eight rods kept two legal sturgeon and released five legal, 31 sublegal and six oversize sturgeon.
John Day Pool — 25 bank anglers had no catch. 28 boats/71 rods released one sublegal and one oversize sturgeon.
Walleye
John Day Pool — One bank angler had no catch. 26 boats/51 rods kept 23 walleye and released eight walleye.
Bass
John Day Pool — One boat/one rod had no catch.
Recent trout plants
Battle Ground Lake (Clark) — Planted with 1,700 rainbows at 2.3 per pound on Feb 18.
Klineline Pond (Clark) — Planted with 2,300 rainbows at 2.3 per pound on Feb. 18. (WDFW)
