PENDLETON, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today that the lower Umatilla River from Highway 730 bridge upstream to Three Mile Dam will reopen for spring chinook fishing on Saturday, May 31 and continue through June 30.
Only adipose fin-clipped chinook may be kept. The bag limit for the Umatilla River fishery is two adults and five jack spring chinook per day and 10 adult chinook salmon per year. Over 90 percent of the spring chinook return is expected to be adipose fin-clipped fish.
The return of spring chinook to the Umatilla River is currently more than 2,000 fish and fishery managers report that this season’s sport harvest rates have been very low.
“Allocation for sport harvest remains available so we have decided to provide more opportunity on this popular lower river fishery,” said Bill Duke, ODFW district fish biologist.
The current upriver sport fishery from Three Mile Dam upstream to the Umatilla Indian Reservation boundary remains unchanged.
Harvest management guidelines are based on actual returns to Three Mile Dam. Fishery managers will closely monitor fish returns and harvest, and anglers are encouraged to check the agency website and local media for updates on the status of the fishery.
For more information go to www.dfw.state.or.us or contact Bill Duke, ODFW district fish biologist, at 541-276-2344.
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