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July 27, 2012
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Columbia River fishery managers decided yesterday to modify the ongoing sturgeon retention season in The Dalles Reservoir from seven to three days a week beginning Sunday, Aug. 5.
Managers hope reducing retention days to Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays only will help offset the Aug. 1 opening of the spawning sanctuary in the pool.
“The area opening Aug. 1 is popular with anglers, who typically catch more fish there,” said Kevleen Melcher, ODFW fish biologist. “Going to a three-days-per-week fishery should help extend the season.”
The Dalles Pool will remain open to sturgeon retention until the 140 fish remaining on the 300 fish quota have been caught.
Fishery managers also approved a pilot fishery for hatchery fall chinook in the area below Bonneville Dam from Warrior Rock downstream to Tongue/Rocky Point. This area will be open for adipose fin-clipped chinook (adults and jacks), steelhead and coho during Sept. 10-16. The daily bag limit will be two adult fin-clipped salmonids, only one of which can be a chinook.
The lower Columbia from Warrior Rock to Tongue point was scheduled to close to chinook on Sept. 10. However, managers decided to try and provide additional fishing opportunity by keeping it open to hatchery fish, Melcher said. Staff will monitor how many fish are caught and harvested to assess the impact of the longer season. |
