The Oregon Seal Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife  
ignore
 » ODFW Home    » ODFW News Releases
ignore
ignore
ignore
About Us Fishing Hunting Viewing License/Regs Conservation Living With Wildlife Education
ignore
ignore
Elk ODFW RESOURCES
News Releases
ignore

No spring Chinook season on Deschutes River
Anglers can expect fall Chinook season in August

March 6, 2015

THE DALLES, Ore. –Fisheries managers have announced that the popular spring Chinook fishery on the Deschutes River will not open in 2015.

According to Rod French, district fish biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, managers are predicting a very poor return of both hatchery and wild fish this season.

Spring Chinook returns to the Deschutes – both wild and hatchery -- have been depressed the last several years, French said. However, this year’s return could be especially hard hit due to a very low number of hatchery fish expected to return to the Round Butte Hatchery.

In order to ensure that the hatchery is able to collect enough brood stock to meet production goals, fishery managers have determined the Deschutes will remain closed to spring Chinook under permanent rule. In years with good returns, a spring Chinook fishery has been opened under emergency rules.

Fishery managers are unsure why returns to the hatchery are down.

“Smolt releases from Round Butte have remained constant in recent years, but the number of fish returning has been declining,” French said.  “We’re working to determine what’s causing the poor survival of these hatchery releases.”

The fall Chinook season on the Deschutes River will open Aug. 1. Unlike the wild spring Chinook population, the wild fall Chinook population in the Deschutes is one of the healthiest stocks in the Columbia Basin, and the anticipated return should be well above management goals.

“All indications are fishing could be as good as last year, when a near-record number of fall Chinook returned to the Deschutes and fishing was excellent,” French said.

###

   

Contact:

Rod French (541) 296-4628
Jessica Sall (503) 947-6023

 
facebook twitter youtube rss feed
ignore
ignore  
 


About Us | Fishing | Crabbing & Clamming | Big Game Hunting | Game Bird Hunting | Wildlife Viewing | License / Regs | Conservation | Living with Wildlife | Education | Workday Login

ODFW Home | Driving Directions | Employee Directory | Social Media | Oregon.gov | File Formats | Employee Webmail | ODFW License Agents | Accessibility

4034 Fairview Industrial Drive SE   ::   Salem, OR 97302   ::    Main Phone (503) 947-6000 or (800) 720-ODFW [6339]

Do you have a question or comment for ODFW? Contact ODFW's Public Service Representative at: odfw.info@odfw.oregon.gov
Share your opinion or comments on a Fish and Wildlife Commission issue at: odfw.commission@odfw.oregon.gov
Do you need this information in an alternative format or language? Contact 503-947-6000 or click here.





   © ODFW. All rights reserved. This page was last updated: 03/06/2015 4:06 PM