Lower Columbia River salmon and steelhead fishery update

October 10, 2022

Action:  Closes Chinook retention from Buoy 10 to the I-82/Hwy. 395 Bridge, beginning Oct. 8. Exceptions to salmon and steelhead pamphlet seasons from Buoy 10 to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco are listed below (all year-round Closed Waters areas listed in pamphlet remain closed):

Species affected:  Salmon and steelhead.

Locations, rules, and effective dates:  

  1. From a true north-south line through Buoy 10 to a line from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through Red Buoy 44 to the red navigation marker 2 at tongue Point on the Oregon Bank (Rocky Point/Tongue Point line), and including Youngs Bay:

Oct. 8-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 3 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Salmon min. size 12”. Up to 3 adults, including no more than 2 hatchery steelhead, may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.

  1. From the Rocky Point/Tongue point line upstream to the West Puget Island Line (a line at the west end of Puget Island projected from green navigation marker 39 on the Washington bank to green navigation marker 41, then to red navigation marker 42, and terminating at red navigation marker 44A on the Oregon bank):

Immediately through Oct. 7:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained, including no more than 1 Chinook. Release all salmon and steelhead other than Chinook and hatchery coho.

Oct. 8-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Salmon min. size 12”. Up to 2 adult salmon, 2 hatchery steelhead, or one of each may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.

  1. From the West Puget Island Line to Beacon Rock, including Camas Slough:

Oct. 8-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Salmon min. size 12”. Up to 2 adult salmon, 2 hatchery steelhead, or one of each may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.

  1. From Beacon Rock to a line projected from the Hamilton Island boat ramp to an Oregon boundary marker on the westernmost point of Robins Island to a marker on the Oregon mainland shore:

Oct. 8-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

  1. From a line projected from the Hamilton Island boat ramp to an Oregon boundary marker on the westernmost point of Robins Island to a marker on the Oregon mainland shore to a point 600’ below the fish ladder at the new Bonneville Dam Powerhouse:

Oct. 8-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Salmon min. size 12”. Up to 2 adult salmon, 2 hatchery steelhead, or one of each may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.

  1. From Bonneville Dam to the Hood River Bridge:

Oct. 8-Oct. 15:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho. Anti-snagging rule in effect. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.

Oct. 16-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adult salmon, 2 hatchery steelhead, or one of each may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.

  1. From the Hood River Bridge to the upstream side of the Interstate (Hwy. 197) Bridge and the Washington shore from the upstream side of the Interstate (Hwy. 197) Bridge to the navigation lock wall:

Oct. 8-Oct. 15:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than coho. Anti-snagging rule in effect. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.

Oct. 16-Oct. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than coho.

Nov. 1-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adult salmon, 2 hatchery steelhead, or one of each may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than coho and hatchery steelhead.

  1. From a line starting from a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approx. 1300’ upstream of the Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected easterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington southern shore located approx. 200’ above the fish ladder exit to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco:

Oct. 8-Oct. 15:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than coho. Anti-snagging rule in effect. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.

Oct. 16-Dec. 31:  Daily limit 6. Min. size 12”. Up to 2 adults may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than coho.

Reason for action:  The Upriver Bright Fall Chinook runsize has been updated resulting in a lower runsize projection. Chinook retention in the lower river is being closed to stay within the allowable Upriver Bright Fall Chinook harvest sharing agreement, and within allowable ESA impact limits. These fisheries are opened under joint-state agreement.

Additional information:  All other permanent regulations apply.

Anglers can be notified of in-season rule changes as they are announced by signing up for WDFW Regulation Updates at wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.

Information contact:  Region 5:  (360) 696-6211

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on definitions and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Visit wdfw.wa.gov/fishing-hotlines to find a list of mobile, web, print, or customer service phone options for the latest rule information.

Request this information in an alternative format or language at wdfw.wa.gov/accessibility/requests-accommodation, 833-885-1012, TTY (711), or CivilRightsTeam@dfw.wa.gov.