Lower Columbia River steelhead fishery update

Columbia River

Photo Credit: Courtesy of WDFW

by WA Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff
12-21-2020
Website

Action: Increases the daily steelhead limit from Buoy 10 upstream to The Dalles Dam and continues to allow retention of hatchery upriver summer steelhead from The Dalles Dam to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco.

Species affected: Steelhead.

Locations, dates, and rules:

  • From the mouth (Buoy 10 line) to Interstate 5 Bridge: salmon and steelhead
    • Jan. 1-March 31: Daily limit 6. Up to 2 adult salmon or 2 hatchery steelhead or 1 of each may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead. Salmon min. size 12”.
  • From Interstate 5 Bridge to The Dalles Dam: salmon and steelhead
    • Jan. 1-March 31: Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
  • From The Dalles Dam to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco: salmon and steelhead
    • Jan. 1-March 31: Daily limit 1 hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.

Reason for action: This action achieves concurrency between Oregon and Washington in jointly managed waters. Daily winter steelhead limit is corrected by increasing the daily limit from 1 to 2 for areas downstream of The Dalles Dam. Retention of hatchery upriver summer steelhead upstream of The Dalles Dam is expected to accrue less than 0.1% Endangered Species Act impacts to A and B index steelhead, which is below the remaining balance available.

Additional information: Anglers are reminded that barbless hooks are required for salmon and steelhead downstream of the Washington/Oregon border at Hwy. 730.

Please refer to permanent rules in the 2020-21 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for dates not listed above.

Information contact: Region 5: 360-696-6211; Region 3: 509-575-2740




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