Columbia River Fall Chinook Return Upgraded By 13 Percent, Leading To More Fishing; Coho Return To Idaho Stronger Than Expected
September 17th, 2020
With an in-season forecast this week increasing the Columbia River fall chinook salmon run by 13 percent, Oregon and Washington are opening fall chinook angling Saturday, Sept. 19, one week earlier than preseason fishery plans.
Read the Full Article
With Decent Daily Fall Chinook Passage At Bonneville Dam (17,000 On Sept.8), States Open Another Three Days Of Columbia River Salmon Fishing, Gillnet Days
September 11th, 2020
Although there has been no change in expected returns, passage of fall chinook at Bonneville is sufficient to reopen recreational angling opportunities for the fish from Buoy 10 to the Oregon and Washington border, according to the two-state Columbia River Compact at a hearing Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Read the Full Article
States Add Two Days Of Chinook Retention To Provide Weekend Buoy 10 Fishing Before Run-Size Update
September 4th, 2020
Oregon and Washington Columbia River fisheries managers doubled the bag limit for salmon at the popular Buoy 10 fishery from one coho to two salmon, one of which can be a chinook, Sept. 5 and 6, just in time for the Labor Day weekend.
Read the Full Article
States Shut Down Commercial Gillnetting On Columbia River Mainstem; Washington Considering Harvest Reform Proposals Sept.11
August 28th, 2020
Oregon and Washington Thursday shut down commercial gillnetting for fall chinook salmon on the mainstem Columbia River, rescinding the last of the seven 12-hour gillnet periods approved last month.
Read the Full Article
Idaho Reduces Hatchery Steelhead Bag Limit Due To Low Expected Returns (40 Percent Of Average); So Far At Lower Granite 60 Percent Of Run Wild Fish
August 27th, 2020
With the run of summer steelhead expected to return to the Snake River basin at about 40 percent of the 10-year average, the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Commission at its meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, reduced the number of the fish anglers in the state can keep when fishing the Salmon, Little Salmon and Snake rivers. Steelhead angling opens on those rivers Sept. 1.
Read the Full Article
Snake River Sockeye Nears End Of Run At 68 Percent Of Average, Fall Chinook Passage Gaining Steam; Cool Down In Lower Snake
August 27th, 2020
With just one to two endangered Snake River sockeye salmon passing Lower Granite Dam daily, the end of the run seems nearly complete.
Read the Full Article
Lamprey Fish Passage Efficiency At Each Columbia/Snake Dam Very Low: Nearly Half Lost (Not Counted) At Each Dam From Bonneville Dam To McNary
August 14th, 2020
A variety of changes at Columbia and Snake river dams to boost passage of Pacific lamprey is resulting in incremental improvements, according to a presentation this week at a Northwest Power and Conservation Council meeting.
Read the Full Article
Endangered Snake River Sockeye Arriving At Idaho’s Sawtooth Basin, Numbers Better Than Last Year’s Dismal Return
August 6th, 2020
The first two sockeye salmon completed their 900 mile journey through eight Columbia and Snake river dams and up the Salmon River, climbing 6,500 feet in elevation and arriving in Idaho’s Sawtooth Basin over the weekend.
Read the Full Article
Decades-Old Snake River Hatcheries Underfunded For Infrastructure Needs; Produce 20 Million Juvenile Salmon/Steelhead Each Year
July 16th, 2020
A five-year plan for non-recurring maintenance needs and infrastructure fixes at aging 35-to-40-year-old Snake River hatcheries shows a budget that is $5 million short, raising the question of who pays, according to managers and operators at the hatcheries who laid out their funding needs at the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Fish and Wildlife Committee meeting Tuesday, July 14.