Snake River spring Chinook season opens April 28

Snake River


by ODFW
4-26-2018
Website

Spring Chinook season will open on the Snake River in Hells Canyon on April 28 from the Dug Bar boat ramp to the boundary below Hells Canyon Dam.

Fishery managers do not expect salmon to arrive to the fishery area for several weeks, as these fish are currently making their way up the Columbia River headed for Hells Canyon. “This group tends to be amongst the first to reach the Snake River, and they can migrate really quickly once they pass Bonneville Dam,” said Jeff Yanke, District Fish Biologist in Enterprise. “We like to have this fishery open early so anglers can take advantage as soon as they arrive,” he added.

The daily bag limit is 4 spring Chinook per day with no more than 2 being adults over 24 inches. Anglers must cease fishing for salmon for the day when they retain 4 salmon or 2 adult salmon, whichever comes first.

Barbless hooks and a Columbia Basin Endorsement are required when fishing for salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon in the Snake River. All other sport fishing regulations apply. Due to limited access in this section, most anglers access this fishery below Hells Canyon Dam or by jet boat.

Hells Canyon will likely be one of the few spring Chinook fisheries in Oregon’s Snake Basin this year. Fishery managers are tentatively planning a brief one-week fishery in Lookingglass Creek, but expect that low returns will preclude fisheries in the Imnaha or Wallowa Rivers.

Hells Canyon is unique in that fisheries can occur even during the low salmon runs fishery managers are expecting in 2018. After broodstock needs are met, managers with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Idaho Fish and Game expect a modest recreational sport harvest of 700-800 salmon in the Snake River fishery.

“These fish are specifically raised and released to provide fishing opportunities”, Yanke said. “And with no wild populations of spring Chinook salmon in the Snake River above Dug Bar, there are limited concerns that this fishery will impact vulnerable populations.”





More Reports

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, April 25th, 2018
Columbia River: States set 2018 summer and fall salmon seasons
Devils Lake: ODFW will host family fishing event at Devils Lake in Lincoln City April 28

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Tuesday, April 24th, 2018
Alsea River: Alsea River Fishing Report
Kilchis River: Kilchis River Fishing Report
Nehalem River: Nehalem River Fishing Report
Nestucca River: Nestucca River Fishing Report
Siletz River: Siletz River Fishing Report
Trask River: Trask River Fishing Report
Wilson River: Wilson River Fishing Report
Applegate Reservoir: Applegate Reservoir Fishing Report
Arizona Pond: Arizona Pond Fishing Report
Ben Irving Reservoir: Ben Irving Reservoir Fishing Report
Bradley Lake: Bradley Lake Fishing Report
Chetco River: Chetco River Fishing Report
Coos River: Coos River Basin Fishing Report
Coquille River: Coquille River Fishing Report
Diamond Lake: Diamond Lake Fishing Report
Eel River: Eel Lake Fishing Report
Elk River: Elk River Fishing Report
Emigrant Reservoir: Emigrant Reservoir Fishing Report
Empire Lake Upper: Empire Lakes Fishing Report
Expo Pond: Expo Pond Fishing Report
Fish Lake : Fish Lake Fishing Report
Floras Lake: Floras Lake Fishing Report
Galesville Reservoir: Galesville Reservoir Fishing Report
Garrison Lake: Garrison Lake Fishing Report
Hemlock Lake: Hemlock Lake Fishing Report
Howard Prairie Reservoir: Howard Prairie Reservoir Fishing Report
Hyatt Lake: Hyatt Lake Fishing Report
Lake Marie: Lake Marie Fishing Report
Lake Selmac: Lake Selmac Fishing Report
Lemolo Lake: Lemolo Lake Fishing Report
Loon Lake: Loon Lake Fishing Report
: Lost Creek Fishing Report
Plat I Reservoir: Plat I Reservoir Fishing Report
Smith River: Smith River Fishing Report
Tenmile Lakes: Tenmile Lakes Fishing Report