October 7, 2003
Action: Night closures are being put into place on sections of the Columbia and Okanogan Rivers, along with selective gear rules on the Okanogan River.
Effective dates:
1) Columbia River:: October 8, 2003, through October 15, 2003, from Rocky Reach Dam upstream to Wells Dam and between the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster and the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport.
2) Okanogan River:: October 8, 2003, through October 15, 2003, downstream of the Highway 97 Bridge near Brewster to the mouth.
Species affected: Salmon
Location & Restrictions:
1) Columbia River from Rocky Reach Dam upstream to Wells Dam and between the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster and the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport. Daily limit is six salmon, no more than two adults. Night closure. Release sockeye and coho salmon.
2) Okanogan River downstream of the Highway 97 Bridge near Brewster to the mouth. Daily limit is six salmon, no more than two adults. Selective gear rules except motorized vessels allowed. Night closure. Release sockeye and coho salmon.
Reason for action: A fishery for adipose fin-clipped hatchery-origin steelhead opens October 8 in areas above Priest Rapids Dam. These changes will make regulations consistent for all species where salmon and steelhead fisheries overlap. NOAA Fisheries has approved the steelhead and salmon recreational fisheries.
Other information: Night Closure and Selective Gear Rules are defined on pages 15 and 16 of the 2003/04 Fishing Rules pamphlet. Salmon fisheries above Priest Rapids Dam are scheduled to close beginning October 16. See the steelhead Upper Columbia Fishing Rule Change announcement for details related to that fishery. The salmon season remains open through October 15 from Priest Rapids Dam to Rocky Reach Dam under previously adopted regulations.
Information contacts: Kirk Truscott, District 6 Fish Biologist (509) 664-1227, Joe Foster, Regional Fish Program Manager (509) 754-4624, Art Viola, District 7 Fish Biologist (509) 665-3337.
Effective dates:
1) Columbia River:: October 8, 2003, through October 15, 2003, from Rocky Reach Dam upstream to Wells Dam and between the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster and the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport.
2) Okanogan River:: October 8, 2003, through October 15, 2003, downstream of the Highway 97 Bridge near Brewster to the mouth.
Species affected: Salmon
Location & Restrictions:
1) Columbia River from Rocky Reach Dam upstream to Wells Dam and between the Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster and the Highway 17 Bridge at Bridgeport. Daily limit is six salmon, no more than two adults. Night closure. Release sockeye and coho salmon.
2) Okanogan River downstream of the Highway 97 Bridge near Brewster to the mouth. Daily limit is six salmon, no more than two adults. Selective gear rules except motorized vessels allowed. Night closure. Release sockeye and coho salmon.
Reason for action: A fishery for adipose fin-clipped hatchery-origin steelhead opens October 8 in areas above Priest Rapids Dam. These changes will make regulations consistent for all species where salmon and steelhead fisheries overlap. NOAA Fisheries has approved the steelhead and salmon recreational fisheries.
Other information: Night Closure and Selective Gear Rules are defined on pages 15 and 16 of the 2003/04 Fishing Rules pamphlet. Salmon fisheries above Priest Rapids Dam are scheduled to close beginning October 16. See the steelhead Upper Columbia Fishing Rule Change announcement for details related to that fishery. The salmon season remains open through October 15 from Priest Rapids Dam to Rocky Reach Dam under previously adopted regulations.
Information contacts: Kirk Truscott, District 6 Fish Biologist (509) 664-1227, Joe Foster, Regional Fish Program Manager (509) 754-4624, Art Viola, District 7 Fish Biologist (509) 665-3337.