The Columbian

Outdoors

Fishing report: Oct. 8

October 7, 2020, 8:25pm Outdoors

Fishing reports for waters in southwest Washington, including the Columbia River and tributaries as reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on Oct. 5. Read story

WDFW lifts fire restrictions, including target shooting ban, on most department-managed lands

October 2, 2020, 8:15am Northwest

OLYMPIA -- With a reduced wildfire danger due to cooling temperatures and higher humidity, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lifted fire restrictions, including a temporary target-shooting ban, on most department-managed lands on Thursday. Read story

Fishing report: Oct. 1

September 30, 2020, 7:57pm Outdoors

Fishing reports for waters in southwest Washington, including the Columbia River and tributaries as reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on Sept. 29. Read story

Fishing report: Columbia River sturgeon retention on tap

September 23, 2020, 7:46pm Outdoors

Washington and Oregon will allow three more retention days for white sturgeon in the lower Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to power lines at Wauna, east of Astoria. The area includes the Cowlitz River, but not the Willamette. Read story

State seeks policy feedback on Willapa Bay salmon management, hatchery reform

September 23, 2020, 8:41am Northwest

OLYMPIA -- The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking public feedback on two salmon management policies. Read story

Razor clam diggers are returning to Long Beach this year for plentiful, good-sized clams.

WDFW expects large crowds on beaches for razor clam digs

September 23, 2020, 8:30am Northwest

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife saw decent turnout for razor clam digs on local beaches this week and expects large crowds over the weekend. Read story

Determining the pikeminnow population size in Merwin Reservoir was one of the tasks done by researchers before the federal fishery agencies decide whether salmon and steelhead will be reintroduced into the lake and its tributaries.

Pikeminnow program extended on Columbia, Snake rivers

September 18, 2020, 7:04pm Outdoors

State and federal agencies are extending the season for the Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Program on the Columbia and Snake rivers until Oct. 11. Read story

The final projections for 2020 ocean and Columbia River salmon returns are out, and once again low numbers will constrain fisheries. Chinook numbers will be a bit better for the Buoy 10 fishery, but coho returns will be dismal.

Recreational Columbia River salmon fishing opens Saturday

September 17, 2020, 4:40pm Northwest

Oregon and Washington will reopen the Columbia River on Saturday, through the end of the year, to all salmon fishing from Buoy 10 to Pasco. Read story

This Sept. 10, 2020, photo provided by Erik Withalm shows the roll gates on the Leaburg Dam opened to release water and drain the lake behind the dam during the Holiday Farm Fire east of Eugene, Oregon. The local utility opened the dams to prevent wildfire debris and downed trees from snagging on the gates, but the move deprived the nearby Leaburg Fish Hatchery of fresh water. The hatchery was forced to release more than 1 million steelhead, chinook salmon and trout into the McKenzie River to save them.

Fish in Oregon hatcheries die, released early as fires rage

September 17, 2020, 3:27pm Latest News

PORTLAND — As wildfires raged through Oregon, staff at fish hatcheries around the state raced to try to save – or prematurely release – millions of chinook salmon, steelhead and trout being raised in captivity to preserve fragile fish species, state officials said Thursday. Read story