Columbia River Regulation Changes

COLUMBIA ZONE: Regulation Changes

Fall Salmon Season, Aug 1 – Dec 31

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 line upstream to Tongue Point/Rocky Point line

• Open to retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead and adult (≥16”) adipose fin-clipped coho Aug 1 – Dec 31.
• Retention of adult (≥24”) Chinook is allowed Sept 16 - Dec 31.
• Daily bag limit Sept 16 – Dec 31 is 2 adult salmon/steelhead in combination (both may be Chinook). Coho and steelhead must be adipose fin-clipped. Jacks may not be retained in this fishery prior to Oct 1.
• Effective Oct 1, jack Chinook and adipose fin-clipped jack coho may be retained with a daily bag limit of 5 total jacks in addition to the daily adult fish bag limit of 2.
• Seasons may be subject to in-season modification.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore through red buoy #4 to a marker on the lower end of Bachelor Island.

• A map of the Warrior Rock boundary line (pdf) (upstream boundary)
• Open to retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead and adipose fin-clipped coho Aug 1 – Dec 31.
• Retention of Chinook is prohibited in this area Sept 19-30. Daily bag limit Sept 19-30 is 2 adult coho salmon/steelhead in combination and 5 coho jacks.;
• Retention of Chinook is allowed Oct 1 – Dec 31. Daily bag limit during these dates is 2 adult salmon/steelhead in combination (both may be Chinook), and 5 jacks.
• Seasons may be subject to in-season modification.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, from a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore through red buoy #4 to a marker on the lower end of Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam.

• A map of the Warrior Rock boundary line (pdf) (downstream boundary)
• Open to retention of Chinook (fin-clipped or not), adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and adipose fin-clipped coho Aug 1 – Dec 31.
• Daily bag limit is 2 adult salmon/steelhead in combination (both may be Chinook), and 5 jacks.
• Seasons may be subject to in-season modification.

Select Area Recreational Fisheries, including Young’s Bay, Blind Slough, Knappa Slough

• Open for salmon and steelhead angling as under permanent rules.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Bonneville Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border

• Retention of Chinook, coho, and adipose fin-clipped steelhead allowed Aug 1 – Dec 31.
• Daily bag limit is two adults and five jack salmon. All coho retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be adipose fin-clipped to be retained.

Columbia River Sturgeon Seasons:

• The retention of green sturgeon is prohibited at all times.
• Anglers are limited to the use of one single-point barbless hook while angling for white sturgeon.
• It is unlawful to use lamprey for bait.
• In all areas, catch-and-release sturgeon angling is allowed during non-retention periods, unless otherwise indicated.

Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna Powerlines (mainstem Columbia River from the Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay; and all adjacent Washington tributaries)

• This area is closed to retention of sturgeon but remains open for catch-and-release.

Wauna Powerlines (RM 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam (including all adjacent Washington tributaries)

• Retention of white sturgeon is prohibited from Aug 1 – Sept 30. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.
• Retention allowed Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only October 1 – December 31, or until guideline is met.
• Daily bag limit is 1 white sturgeon 38-54 inches FORK LENGTH.
• The lower Willamette River remains closed to retention of white sturgeon.

Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam)

• This area is closed to retention of sturgeon but remains open for catch-and-release.

The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam)

• This area is closed to retention of sturgeon but remains open for catch-and-release.

John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam)

• This area is closed to retention of sturgeon but remains open for catch-and-release.

Upstream of McNary Dam

• This area is closed to retention of sturgeon but remains open for catch-and-release.
• The area from McNary Dam upstream is open to retention of white sturgeon from Feb. 1 – July 31 annually.