Spring
chinook runs look strong for Columbia River | Fishing report
Washington
and Oregon Fish and Wildlife managers are forecasting 314,200 upriver
spring chinook, which would be the fourth-highest return since 1980.
By Mark
Yuasa
Seattle
Times staff reporter
Those
who enjoyed spring chinook fishing in Columbia River tributaries above
Bonneville Dam last year will like what's in store this coming season.
"We
saw some pretty good fish returns last spring, and it should be strong
again," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist.
The
forecast for the Wind River is 8,400 spring chinook compared to an actual
return of 7,800 last year under a forecast of 4,900.
Another
strong return of 9,500 spring chinook is expected to the Little White
Salmon River also known as Drano Lake. The return last spring was 12,200
with a forecast of 12,600, and a recent 10-year average of 11,600.
The
Klickitat River forecast is 2,100, compared to an actual return of 1,400
last year and a forecast of 2,100.
The
Yakima River forecast calls for 12,000, down from 13,400 last spring.
"Everything
was delayed last spring by (late) fish passage over Bonneville, but once
they got over they were right on track," Hymer said.
Washington
and Oregon Fish and Wildlife managers are forecasting 314,200 upriver
spring chinook, which would be the fourth highest return since 1980. Of
those 277,400 are expected to be four-year-old fish, and 36,400 will be
larger-sized five-year-olds.
The
largest on record occurred in 2001 when 440,300 returned.
Another
83,400 are destined for the Willamette River in Oregon. Last year, the
forecast was 104,100 with an actual return of 80,254.
The
2012 spring chinook returns for the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis —
tributaries of the Lower Columbia — look slightly better than last year
with a forecast of 12,100 compared an actual return of 6,300 under a
forecast of 10,600.
The
Cowlitz forecast is 8,700 (4,100 returned last year); Kalama, 700 (800);
and Lewis, 2,700 (1,400). The spawning goals in the Cowlitz and Lewis are
1,250 each; and the Kalama is 500. Spring chinook fishing restrictions
could happen in the Kalama and Lewis.
Salmon
stocks are taking advantage of La Nina's colder water upwelling conditions
in the ocean that produces good survival rates.
A
total of 154,895 angler trips were taken on the Lower Columbia last year
with 11,694 spring chinook kept.
Last
year, sport fishing for spring chinook in the Lower Columbia River was
open Jan. 1 to April 4, and reopened April 8-19 and May 15 to June 15.
Fishing
seasons in the Lower Columbia River will be decided by state, federal and
tribal fishery managers in Portland on Thursday at 10 a.m. Fisheries above
Bonneville will be decided some time next month.
Great
expectations await spring chinook fishery on the Columbia
It's
only a matter of time before the first migrating spring chinook is hooked
by a lucky angler in the Lower Columbia River.
By Mark
Yuasa
Seattle
Times staff reporter
It's
only a matter of time before the first migrating spring chinook is hooked
by a lucky angler in the Lower Columbia River.
We
already know this fish will be among a strong forecast of 414,500, which
could lead to the fourth-largest return of upriver spring chinook on
record.
Fishing
is currently open daily from Buoy 10 in the Lower Columbia up to I-5. The
fishery expands upriver to Beacon Rock from March 1 to April 6 (closed
March 20, March 27 and April 3), and possibly longer depending in the
catch rate.
Also
opening March 1 is bank fishing from Beacon Rock to the boundary below
Bonneville Dam.
Fishing
above Bonneville Dam will be open daily from March 16 to May 2, between
the Tower Island power lines 6 miles below The Dalles Dam and the
Washington/Oregon state line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank
angling is allowed from Bonneville Dam up to the power lines during that
time.
Starting
March 1, anglers below Bonneville may keep one hatchery-marked adult
spring chinook daily. Above the dam, anglers can keep daily beginning
March 16.
More
statewide salmon forecasts will be revealed when state Fish and Wildlife
has a public meeting 9 a.m. Feb. 28 at the Natural Resources Building in
Olympia.
But
before those figures are unveiled, let's gaze back at how things fared
last season.
The
big eye opener was an estimated 378,056 salmon angler trips taken in the
Lower Columbia last year, which broke the previous record of slightly more
than 371,000 set in 2010.
The
24,973 summer steelhead kept by anglers last year smashed the previous
record of 18,324 fish kept in 2010, and was the highest on record since at
least 1975.
Add
to that another 45,000 adult chinook kept, second only to 2010 when 49,000
fish were taken home by anglers.
Ample
time on the water also allowed anglers to reap their fishing fortunes.
Last
year, spring chinook fishing on the Lower Columbia was open Jan. 1 to
April 4, April 8-19 and reopened on May 15. In that time, a total of
154,895 angler trips were taken with 11,694 spring chinook kept.
Anglers
were allowed to keep summer chinook from May 15 to July 17. In past years,
the option would close by mid-April and wouldn't reopen until mid-June.
Also during the small period when chinook catch-and-keep was closed July
18 to Aug. 1, summer steelhead action ramped up.
The
summer steelhead catch of 11,160 in August was tops for any month since at
least 1969, and walloped the previous record of 8,549 from July.
Add
to that a record 18,509 kept or released in August, compared to the
previous record of 15,934 in July 2009.
Going
back to records that started in 1969, the 5,160 adult summer hatchery
chinook kept were a record. The old record was 4,924 fish caught during a
nonselective fishery in 2006.
When
the fall chinook started to show up in the Columbia around August, fishing
never slowed down.
A
record 28,168 adult fall chinook were caught in the Lower Columbia from
Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. The previous record was 26,195 adults kept in 2003.
During
that period, 147,343 angler trips were taken, which was a record effort
since at least 1980. The previous high was 117,975 angler trips taken in
2009.
The
good times weren't just limited to one location, as the Hanford Reach area
saw a record 11,598 kings kept last year.
There
also were a record 1,427 Lower Columbia sockeye (which rarely bite any
lure or bait thrown at them) kept. That was nearly twice the previous
record of 900 in 2009.
With
the upwelling of cold water from La Nina conditions securely fastened in
the ocean, there should be more excellent survival rates as this season's
fish migrate back.
All
ocean and Puget Sound salmon fisheries will be finalized April 1-6.
Click
her for a list
of meetings.
Two
chinook counted at Bonneville
Dam on the Columbia
River, but unsure if they are spring or late fall fish
Posted
by Mark
Yuasa
The
first spring chinook hasn't been hooked by any angler on the Lower
Columbia River below I-5 just yet, but two might have shown up elsewhere
on the mighty river.
Joe
Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist in Vancouver says an adult and
a jack chinook were counted at Bonneville Dam on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
"We
aren't sure if it was a late fall chinook or a springer," Hymer said,
"The (lower river) commercial sturgeon fishery starts on Monday, and
we'll see what they catch too."
Here
is what the actual fish counter at Bonneville said: "Unclipped
chinook adult and an unclipped chinook jack that went through one right
behind the other (on Wednesday) and they both had the white chins, and I
don't think they're springers. I was doing video when they went through so
I got to see them live as well as the video. They're both bright as can
be, but just don't have the look of a springer."
Even
if those aren't truly spring chinook it is only a matter of time before we
hear about the first one caught.
The
upriver Columbia River spring chinook forecast is 314,200 compared to a
forecast last year of 198,400 and an actual return of 221,200. It would be
the fourth largest dating back to 1980, with the largest return of 440,300
happening in 2001.
The
second largest occurred in 2002 when 335,000 upriver springers returned,
and the third largest was 315,000 in 2010.
Harvest
guidelines adopted will allow anglers fishing below Bonneville Dam to
catch and keep up to 14,500 hatchery-reared spring chinook before the run
forecast is updated in May.
Spring
chinook fishing is currently open to boat and bank anglers on a daily
basis from Buoy 10 near the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to the
I-5 bridge.
Under
the new rules, the sport fishery will expand upriver to Beacon Rock from
March 1 through April 6. During that period, the sport fishery will close
on three Tuesdays - March 20, March 27 and April 3 - to accommodate
commercial fisheries.
Starting
March 1, bank anglers will also be allowed to fish from Beacon Rock up to
the fishing boundary below Bonneville Dam.
Above
Bonneville Dam, the fishery will be open to boat and bank anglers on a
daily basis from March 16 through May 2 between the Tower Island
powerlines six miles below The Dalles Dam and the Washington/Oregon state
line, 17 miles upriver from McNary Dam. Bank anglers can also fish from
Bonneville Dam upriver to the powerlines during that time.
Starting
March 1, anglers fishing downriver from Bonneville Dam may retain one
marked, hatchery-reared adult spring chinook as part of their daily catch
limit. Above the dam, anglers can keep two marked adult spring chinook per
day effective March 16.
As
in years past, only hatchery-reared spring chinook marked with a clipped
adipose fin may be retained. Any unmarked wild spring chinook must be
released unharmed.
Decent
salmon fishing off coast and on Columbia predicted in 2012
Predictions
for year are promising for Northwest anglers.
By Mark
Yuasa
Seattle
Times staff reporter
Salmon
anglers should have decent fishing opportunities off the coast and on the
Columbia River next summer and fall.
"The
summer chinook return for the Upper Columbia is a good forecast, and the
highest since at least 1980," said Joe Hymer, a state Fish and
Wildlife biologist.
The
Upper Columbia summer chinook forecast is 91,200, compared to a forecast
of 91,100 last year and an actual return of 80,600.
The
record Columbia River summer chinook return was 89,500 in 2002.
All
salmon stocks in recent years are benefiting from La Nina's colder water
upwelling conditions that produce fantastic ocean survival rates, not only
for fin fish species but the entire food chain.
Most
of the summer chinook migrate up the Columbia River above Priest Rapids
Dam from mid-June through July, and are commonly referred to by anglers as
"June Hogs."
Last
summer's 5,160 adult hatchery-marked summer chinook kept is a record,
breaking the 4,924 in 2006. There was an estimated 75,818 angler trips,
the highest since at least 1973.
The
Columbia is also expecting a relatively strong sockeye return of 462,000
in 2012, compared to a forecast of 161,900 last year, and an actual return
of 183,300.
Most
of the sockeye — 431,300 — are destined for the Okanogan River with
28,800 headed to the Wenatchee (41,800 returned last year) and 1,900 back
to the Snake River in Idaho (1,900).
If
the 2012 forecast pans out, it would be a record return since at least
1938. The largest sockeye return was 387,900 in 2010.
"Sockeye
can be difficult to forecast, and the Snake River return hasn't increased
and is going to be a constraining factor again," said Kathryn Kostow
of Oregon Fish and Wildlife and Columbia River Technical Advisory
Committee chairwoman.
The
Columbia sockeye fisheries are quite limited by Snake River sockeye, which
are listed on the Endangered Species Act.
But
the Lower Columbia was open for sockeye fishing last summer, with a record
of 1,427 sockeye kept.
No
specific forecasts have been released for fall salmon runs, but some
general information was recently announced.
The
upriver bright fall chinook return in 2012 is expected to be strong again,
and is a major contributor in the Columbia River fisheries.
All
other Columbia River fall chinook stocks should be similar to 2011 actual
returns, including the lower river hatchery stock that produced one of the
better fishing seasons off the coast. The Bonneville Pool hatchery chinook
return is predicted to be less than 2011.
The
total fall chinook returns in the Columbia River last year were predicted
to be 766,300 adult fish (nearly 108,000 more than the 2010 forecast), and
the actual return was about 600,000.
The
Lower Columbia River fall chinook had a record kept catch of 28,169 adult
fish with 147,343 angler trips taken from past August through October. The
previous record was 26,195 adults kept in 2003, and the previous angler
trip record was 117,975 in 2009.
The
2011 coho return is slightly greater than 270,800, and the jack return
about 13,000, compared to 10-year average of 28,00.
All
the salmon fishing seasons will be announced in early April.
Grant to remove debris from Icicle, Wenatchee
By K.C. Mehaffey
World staff writer
Friday, November 25, 2011
The state Department of Ecology has awarded $25,000 to
Chelan County to clean up Icicle Creek and the upper Wenatchee River.
The county will partner with the Icicle Valley chapter of
Trout Unlimited to get residents to help remove rip-rap and other debris,
and replace them with native plants, an Ecology news release said.
All
older news is being transferred to the
page called "Old
News" (imagine that! :).
Web site hosted by: 