States close Columbia steelhead fishing due to poor returns

Columbia River


by ODFW
8-25-2018
Website

Steelhead retention in the Columbia River and lower John Day River will close effective Monday, Aug. 27 through the end of the year due to poor returns.

The states of Oregon and Washington decided to close the retention fishery after the run size was downgraded from a preseason forecast of 182,000 to 110,000 adult summer steelhead on Monday. The revised estimate is lower than last year’s actual returns of 113,000 steelhead, which was far below recent averages and prompted fishery managers to enact a series of rolling season closures to protect the steelhead as they moved upstream.

“Steelhead returns are well below expectations and this latest update just doesn’t support allowing the fishery to continue as is. I encourage people to explore other angling opportunities during this conservation closure period, and if a person does happen to intercept a steelhead it is critical that they do their utmost to ensure its survival by using best fishing practices,” said Tucker Jones, manager of ODFW’s Ocean Salmon and Columbia River Program.

The effective area is from the Columbia River mouth at Buoy 10 upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge near Pasco, Wash. The closure also includes the John Day River from Tumwater Falls downstream to its confluence with the Columbia. As a reminder the previously adopted angling sanctuary at the mouth of the Deschutes River is still in place.

The steelhead closure is scheduled to continue through the end of 2018, although the states will continue to monitor returns and could lift some restrictions if the numbers improve, according to Jones.

Chinook and coho salmon fishing continues on the Columbia according to previously adopted seasons and regulations.

ODFW lists best handling practices on Page 13 of the 2017 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations.

For more information and regulation updates, please see ODFW’s Columbia River Zone online.





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Kilchis River: Kilchis River Fishing Report
Nehalem River: Nehalem River Fishing Report
Nestucca River: Nestucca River Fishing Report
Salmon River: Salmon River Fishing Report
Siletz River: Siletz River Fishing Report
Siuslaw River: Siuslaw River Fishing Report
Trask River: Trask River Fishing Report
Wilson River: Wilson River Fishing Report
Yaquina River: Yaquina River Fishing Report
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Fishing Report
Applegate River: Applegate River Fishing Report
Arizona Pond: Arizona Pond Fishing Report
Ben Irving Reservoir: Ben Irving Reservoir Fishing Report
Chetco River: Chetco River Fishing Report
Coos River: Coos River Basin Fishing Report
Coquille River: Coquille River Fishing Report
Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake Fishing Report
Eel Lake: Eel Lake Fishing Report
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Reservoir Fishing Report
Empire Lake Lower: Empire Lakes Fishing Report
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Fishing Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake Fishing Report
Floras Lake: Floras Lake Fishing Report
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville Reservoir Fishing Report
Garrison Lake: Garrison Lake Fishing Report
Hemlock Lake: Hemlock Lake Fishing Report
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie Reservoir Fishing Report
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt Lake Fishing Report
Illinois River: Illinois River Fishing Report
Lake Marie: Lake Marie Fishing Report
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Fishing Report
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo Lake Fishing Report
Loon Lake: Loon Lake Fishing Report
: Lost Creek Fishing Report
Plat I Reservoir: Plat I Reservoir Fishing Report
Smith River: Smith River Fishing Report
: Tenmile Creek Fishing Report
Tenmile Lakes: Tenmile Lakes Fishing Report