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May 27, 2014
LA GRANDE, Ore. —Thanks to an expected return of 1,500 spring Chinook to Lookingglass Creek, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced the creek will open to fishing for hatchery Chinook beginning Saturday, May 31.
The creek, a tributary to the Grande Ronde River at Palmer Junction, will be open from the Moses Creek Lane Bridge (County Road 42) upstream to the confluence of Jarboe Creek. The fishery will remain open until the harvest quota is reached, which biologists estimate will be two to four weeks. Biologists from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will monitor the harvest on a weekly basis.
“This year’s strong return and subsequent fishery are due largely to a revamped hatchery program for Lookingglass Creek that should provide more consistent fishing opportunities in the future,” said Tim Bailey, ODFW district fish biologist in La Grande. The majority of returning fish will be hatchery fish.
Anglers may retain two adipose fin-clipped chinook adults and five adipose fin-clipped jacks per day, with two daily limits in possession. Jack salmon are less than 24 inches in length. Anglers do not need to record jack catch on their combined angling tags, but it is illegal to continue fishing for jack Chinook once the adult bag limit is met. Unmarked (wild) fish must be released carefully and unharmed.
As with the trout fishery that opened on Lookingglass Creek on May 24, anglers are restricted to artificial flies and lures while fishing for salmon―no bait is allowed.
"There are bull trout in Lookingglass Creek, and bait fishing could pose a threat to them, so all fishing in the creek is restricted to artificial flies and lures ," Bailey said.
Private timberlands owned by Forest Capital and open to public access border the area open to sport fishing. Anglers are reminded to respect private property by picking up trash when leaving.
For more information, contact the ODFW Northeast Region Office in La Grande at (541) 963-2138.
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Contact:
Tim Bailey (541) 962-1829
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