Lower, Middle Columbia, Hanford Fishing Report (10–11–16)

THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL ORIGINATED FROM TANNA TAKATA, ODFW, AND PAUL HOFFARTH, WDFW, AND WAS TRANSMITTED BY JOE HYMER, PSMFC, AND MADONNA LUERS, WDFW

Salmon, Steelhead and Shad

Salmonid angling has slowed with the majority of the fish having moved onto the spawning grounds. The best catch rates are near the mouths of tributaries. In the John Day Pool, boat anglers averaged 0.10 Chinook, 0.57 coho and 0.14 steelhead caught per boat, while anglers fishing The Dalles Pool averaged 0.30 Chinook and 0.10 steelhead caught per boat. In the Bonneville Pool, boat anglers averaged 0.88 Chinook and 0.15 Coho caught per boat. In the gorge, boat anglers averaged 0.89 Chinook, 0.11 coho and 0.03 steelhead caught per boat, while anglers fishing in Troutdale averaged 0.33 Chinook and 0.16 coho caught per boat. In the Portland to Tongue Point area, boat anglers averaged 0.34 Chinook and 0.26 coho caught per boat. Bank anglers fishing the John Day Pool averaged 0.13 Chinook and 0.25 steelhead caught per angler, while anglers fishing The Dalles Pool averaged 0.02 Chinook and 0.10 steelhead caught per angler. Bank anglers fishing the Bonneville Pool averaged 0.11 Chinook caught per angler.

Gorge Bank: Weekly checking showed no catch for 20 bank anglers.

Gorge Boats: Weekend checking showed 32 Chinook adults, four Chinook jacks, four coho adults and one coho jack kept, plus one steelhead released for 36 boats (113 anglers).

Troutdale Boats: Weekend checking showed 19 Chinook adults, four Chinook jacks and four coho adults kept, plus five coho adults released for 57 boats (112 anglers).

Portland to Westport Bank: Weekend checking showed no catch for 15 bank anglers.

Portland to Tongue Point Boats: Weekend checking showed 13 Chinook adults, two Chinook jacks and eight coho adults kept, plus two coho adults released for 38 boats (87 anglers).

Estuary Boats (Tongue Point to Buoy 10): No report.

Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam): Weekly checking showed one Chinook adult kept for nine bank anglers; and 75 Chinook adults, 13 Chinook jacks, 13 coho adults and four coho jacks kept for 85 boats (225 anglers).

The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam): Weekly checking showed one Chinook adult and two steelhead kept, plus two steelhead released for 42 bank anglers; and three Chinook adults and one steelhead kept, plus two Chinook jacks released for 10 boats (19 anglers).

John Day Pool (John Day Dam to McNary Dam): Weekly checking showed one Chinook adult and one steelhead kept, plus one steelhead released for eight bank anglers; and two Chinook adults, 12 coho adults and three steelhead kept for 21 boats (43 anglers).

STURGEON

Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam): Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed two sublegal sturgeon released for one bank angler; and five sublegal and one legal white sturgeon released for one boat (one angler).

Bonneville Pool: Closed for retention. No report.

The Dalles Pool: Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed one sublegal sturgeon released for one bank angler.

John Day Pool: Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed 15 sublegal, six legal and five oversize sturgeon released for four boats (nine anglers).

WALLEYE

Troutdale: Weekly checking showed six walleye kept for two boats (five anglers).

Portland: No report.

The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam): Weekly checking showed 16 walleye kept, plus three walleye released for four boats (seven anglers).

John Day Pool (John Day Dam to McNary Dam): Weekly checking showed 88 walleye kept, plus 68 walleye released for 18 boats (35 anglers).

………………………………………………………………………………………

Lake Wallula Steelhead/Salmon Fishery: Oct 3–9

Steelhead fishing continues to improve in the Columbia River between McNary and the Walla Walla River. Anglers averaged 16 hours per steelhead this past week, down from 23 hours per fish last week. Boat anglers averaged a little less than a steelhead per boat (0.7), 18 hours/fish. Roughly 2/3 of the steelhead caught have been hatchery origin.

WDFW staff interviewed 349 anglers with 59 steelhead caught last week. Based on the data collected, 327 steelhead were caught and 196 hatchery steelhead were harvested from 1,597 anglers this past week.

There have been 4,638 angler trips for steelhead/salmon in the McNary area through October 9 with a harvest of 355 hatchery steelhead, 44 adult chinook, 25 chinook jacks, and 3 coho. Approximately 44% of the steelhead harvested are likely B run fish, greater than 31 inches in length and weighing over 10 pounds.

Fall Chinook and steelhead passage through McNary Dam is declining with just over 1,000 of each species currently passing McNary each day. Salmon fishing is just about over for the fall but steelhead fishing should remain good for a few more weeks.

………………………………………………………………………………………

Hanford Reach Sport Fishery Update: October 9

Boats fishing for salmon in the Hanford Reach averaged 1.3 chinook per boat (13 angler hours per fish). Bank fishing at Ringold continues to be slow for both chinook and steelhead.

WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 707 boats (1,799 anglers) and 114 bank anglers (Ringold access area) and sampled 866 adult chinook and 43 jacks. Based on the information collected, an estimated 2,899 adult chinook and 142 jacks were harvested this past week from 6,247 anglers.

Through October 9, 13,856 adult chinook, 942 chinook jacks, and 13 coho have been harvested in the Hanford Reach from 38,603 angler trips.

The numbers of fall chinook moving upstream through the McNary fish ladders has continued to decline. The current in-season update for the Hanford Reach natural origin (wild) fall chinook is 110,478 adults.

………………………………………………………………………………………

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501–1091
 http://wdfw.wa.gov

October 10, 2016

Upper Columbia River fall chinook salmon fishery season enhancements

Actions: Liberalize chinook salmon rules for the mainstem Columbia River upstream from Priest Rapids Dam.

Species affected: Chinook salmon.

Effective date: Oct. 12 through Nov. 30, 2016.

Location: Mainstem Columbia River from Priest Rapids Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam.

General rules and daily limits:

Six chinook salmon, whether or not they have a clipped adipose fin, of which only three may be adult chinook. Release coho salmon.

• Minimum size 12 inches.
• Selective gear rules, except bait allowed.
• Night closure upstream of Rock Island Dam.
• Two poles allowed with Two-Pole Endorsement.
• Release chinook salmon that have a ¼ inch diameter (round) hole punched in the upper lobe of the caudal (tail) fin.

Reason for actions: Over 35,000 chinook — primarily from the Hanford Reach fall chinook hatchery programs — will likely have returned above Priest Rapids Dam, including over 9,000 above Rock Island Dam. The intent of the fishery is the removal of excess hatchery fall chinook from the Upper Columbia River Basin. The population is not listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Fall chinook salmon with caudal fin hole punches have been sedated in a chemical anesthetic, and must be released.

Other information: Anglers should be aware that fishing rules are subject to change and that rivers can close at any time due to impacts on natural origin steelhead.

All anglers must possess a valid fishing license and a Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement to participate in these fisheries. Revenue from the endorsement supports salmon or steelhead seasons on many rivers in the Columbia River system, including enforcing fishery regulations and monitoring the upper Columbia River steelhead fisheries. The endorsement has generated more than $1 million annually for WDFW to maintain and increase fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River Basin.