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Fishing report, Feb. 25

By Columbian staff
Published: February 24, 2021, 6:21pm

A variety of opportunities for the public to participate in setting state-managed salmon fishing seasons for 2021 have been scheduled by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The process begins with an annual salmon forecast meeting on Friday (Feb. 26), which is just one of a dozen scheduled virtually as part of each year’s salmon season discussions.

State fishery managers will consider input from anglers, commercial fishers and others interested in salmon as they work with tribal co-managers to craft this year’s fisheries.

The WDFW will present initial salmon forecasts derived by WDFW and tribal fisheries biologist analysis from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday.

The public can also participate in the process by submitting comments online beginning in early March at www.wdfw.wa.gov/management/north-falcon/public-input.

A full timeline of the process and a public meeting schedule is available at the WDFW’s North of Falcon public meeting schedule page https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/management/north-falcon/public-meetings.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council will discuss preliminary options for ocean fisheries during its March meeting and is expected to adopt final ocean fishing seasons and harvest levels at its April meeting. More information on these virtual meetings is available at https://www.pcouncil.org/.

FISHING REPORT (updated Feb. 22)

Fishing reports for waters in southwest Washington, including the Columbia River and tributaries as reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on Feb. 22.

Always check the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing for the latest fishing rules and regulations as seasons can change or close quickly if necessary.

UPDATES

Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River mainstem

Buoy 10 upstream to the Interstate-5 bridge — Through March 31 the daily limit is six with up to two adult salmon or two hatchery steelhead or one of each may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.

I-5 bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam — Through March 31 the daily limit is two hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.

The Dalles Dam upstream to Highway 395 bridge at Pasco — Through March 31 the daily limit is one hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.

Sturgeon: Columbia River mainstem

Columbia River, from Buoy 10 upstream to John Day Dam including adjacent tributaries — Catch and release only. Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed.

Columbia River, John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam — White sturgeon open for retention fishing until annual quota is met. Minimum size is 43-inch fork length, maximum size 54-inch fork length. Daily limit is one, and annual limit is two fish. Catch and release allowed when closed to retention. Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed.

FISHERY REPORTS

Lower Columbia mainstem from Bonneville to Astoria — 21 salmonid boats and 28 Washington bank rods were tallied during the Feb. 20 effort count.

Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River mainstem

Vancouver — One bank angler had no catch.

Woodland — Nine bank anglers had no catch.

Longview — Four bank anglers had no catch.

The Dalles Pool — One boat/one rod released one steelhead.

Sturgeon: Columbia River mainstem

John Day Pool — Three bank anglers had no catch; five boats/17 rods had no catch.

Walleye: Columbia River mainstem

The Dalles Pool — Two bank anglers kept two walleye; three boats/nine rods had no catch.

John Day Pool — 14 boats/38 rods kept 47 walleye and released five walleye.

Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River tributaries

Cowlitz River from Interstate-5 bridge downstream — 108 bank rods kept five steelhead; five boats/eight rods kept one steelhead.

Above the I-5 bridge — 32 bank rods kept four steelhead and released two steelhead; 69 boats/224 rods kept 79 steelhead, two cutthroat and released five steelhead.

Kalama River — Two boats/five rods had no catch.

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