States set 2021 Columbia River salmon and steelhead seasons
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Oregon and Washington fishery managers recently announced seasons and regulations for 2021 Columbia River summer and fall salmon and steelhead fisheries.
Improved forecasts for summer Chinook, fall Chinook and coho salmon will allow for increased opportunity to target these fish. However, the forecasts for sockeye salmon and upriver summer steelhead (155,600 and 101,400 respectively) are below average and will require conservative retention seasons.
For the summer season, retention of adult hatchery Chinook will open June 16 and continue through July 5 downstream of Bonneville Dam and through July 31 from Bonneville Dam upstream to the OR/WA border. In both areas, sockeye and hatchery steelhead retention will be allowed June 16 to July 31, but with a reduced bag limit for each.
One hatchery steelhead bag limit continues upstream of The Dalles Dam
CLACKAMAS, Ore. Oregon and Washington fishery managers have decided to continue the one adult hatchery steelhead bag limit through March 31, 2021 for the ongoing fishery in the mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, WA.
The low pre-season forecast prompted fishery managers to take a conservative approach when setting regulations for the 2020-2021 summer steelhead run. Although the B-Index summer steelhead run is currently projected at 32,300 fish compared to the preseason expectation of 9,600 fish, fishery managers want to maintain a conservative approach.
Anglers are reminded that permanent regulations will be in effect beginning Jan. 1 for the mainstem Columbia River from the mouth upstream to The Dalles Dam and in the John Day River downstream of Tumwater Falls. See permanent regulations at http://www.eregulations.com/oregon/fishing/.