The Columbia River spring Chinook season has been extended, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Wednesday.
Anglers will once again be able to catch and keep spring Chinook and hatchery steelhead from June 1 through 15.
The change effects the Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam.
From Tongue Point to Beacon Rock, the daily limit is six. Up to two adults may be retained of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
Fishing from a vessel is prohibited from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam. Only bank angling with hand-cast lines is allowed.
The season was extended after the WDFW determined there was sufficient allocation of upriver spring Chinook to comply with the Endangered Species Act.
Shad angling from a vessel is permitted from Beacon Rock upstream to Hamilton boat ramp.
Fishery reports
Lower Columbia River from Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam there were 373 salmonid boats and 299 Washington bank rods were tallied during the May 25 flight count.
MAINSTEM COLUMBIA RIVER
Salmon/Steelhead
Sec 1 (Bonneville) — 239 bank anglers kept 12 Chinook, five jacks, released nine Chinook and one jack.
Sec 3 (I-5 area) — Four bank anglers had no catch; one boat/one rod had no catch.
Sec 4 (Vancouver) — 118 bank anglers kept four Chinook, one jack and released one Chinook; 38 boats/79 rods kept four Chinook, one jack, released one Chinook and one jack.
Sec 5 (Woodland) — 44 bank anglers kept one steelhead; eight boats/15 rods kept one Chinook.
Sec 6 (Kalama) — 57 bank anglers kept one Chinook, one jack and four steelhead; 13 boats/38 rods kept five Chinook, one jack and released two Chinook.
Sec 7 (Cowlitz) — Two boats/seven rods kept one Chinook.
Sec 8 (Longview) — 66 bank anglers kept seven steelhead and released one steelhead; 12 boats/36 rods kept 10 steelhead, released one jack and two steelhead.
Sec 9 (Cathlamet) — 51 bank anglers kept nine steelhead and released two steelhead; 10 boats/23 rods kept three steelhead and released one steelhead.
Sec 10 (Cathlamet) — 11 bank anglers released one steelhead; one boat/two rods had no catch.
Shad
Sec 1 (Bonneville) — Two boats/seven rods kept 33 shad.
Sec 6 (Kalama) — One boat/one rod kept 12 shad.
COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBUTARIES
Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River I-5 bridge downstream — 36 bank rods had no catch.
Cowlitz River above the I-5 Bridge — Seven bank rods released one Chinook; one boat/one rod had no catch.
Kalama River — Three bank rods had no catch; three boats/nine rods kept one Chinook.
Lewis River — One boat/one rod had no catch.
Wind River — Seven boats/16 rods kept one Chinook.
Drano Lake — Three bank rods had no catch; 32 boats/82 rods kept nine Chinook.
Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge — Three bank rods had no catch.
Recent trout plants
May 28
Battle Ground Lake — 1,345 rainbow trout, 2.10 fish per pound from Vancouver Hatchery.
May 29
Klineline Pond — 2,000 rainbow trout, 2.10 fish per pound from Vancouver Hatchery.
