Clackamas, Ore — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reminds anglers that the lower Columbia River between Tongue Point-Rocky Point and the lower end of Bachelor Island (Washington shore) and Warrior Rock Lighthouse (Oregon shore) will be closed to the retention of fall chinook from Sept 5 - 30. 

Retention will remain open for adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead; however, all chinook must be released unharmed. 

“Due to new conservation requirements, we’ve adjusted the traditional seasons to reduce impacts upon lower Columbia River Chinook,” said Chris Kern, Assistant Columbia River Fisheries Manager.

The area below the Bachelor Island-Warrior Rock line includes a popular fishery below the mouth of the Lewis River. The closure to retention of chinook in this area is necessary to provide additional protection for lower Columbia fall chinook stocks, many of which are destined for the Lewis River and other tributaries downstream of the Lewis River.

Anglers are also reminded that fall lower Columbia River salmon fisheries are managed by harvest quotas based upon the percentage of the run that can be harvested. Therefore, changes in estimates of run sizes during the fishing season can impact the allowable harvest. Anglers should check for the latest information from the ODFW or WDFW websites and telephone hotlines, or local newspapers and media outlets during the fishing season.

Anglers can find the latest fishing regulations and information regarding closures on

the ODFW website at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/fishing/. Or on the ODFW telephone hotline at 1-503-947-6000.

Additional information may also be found on ODFW's Web page at http://www.dfw.state.or.us/OSCRP/CRM/action_notes.html.