News: Spring chinook fishing to reopen on Columbia River

By Bill Monroe For The Oregonian/OregonLive

Spring chinook salmon fishing will reopen Friday on the Columbia River from Tongue Point, near Astoria, to the Oregon/Washington border.

Biologists from both states approved the reopening in a telephone meeting Wednesday, saying a lower run prediction (116,500 upriver springers) announced Monday still accommodates additional sportfishing.

All former boundaries and the limit of one hatchery chinook per day will be in effect. Up to two hatchery steelhead can also be kept within the two-fish limit for salmon and steelhead.

From Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam, fishing will be open from Friday through Wednesday, June 6.

From Bonneville Dam to the Oregon/Washington border fishing will continue from Friday through June 15.

Summer chinook angling will begin June 16 upriver from the dam, but is delayed until June 22 below the dam.

Biologists cautioned about the prospect of delayed counts at Bonneville because of high water (above flood level at Vancouver) forecast to begin as soon as Friday.