TILLAMOOK, Ore. – Fall Chinook salmon fishing opens today on the lower Columbia River tributaries under new rules designed to protect wild fish.
Only fin-clipped fall Chinook salmon may be retained this year on lower Columbia River tributaries in a move designed to protect wild tule Chinook, a species listed for protection under the Endangered Species Act.
Streams covered by the temporary rule include Youngs River and Bay, Bear Creek, Beaver Creek, Big Creek, Gnat Creek, John Day River, Klaskanine River (Including North and South Fork), Clatskanie River and Lewis and Clark River.
While anglers are still allowed to fish for Chinook in these streams and keep up to two adult and five jack (15”-24”) Chinook, they must be fin-clipped fish, which are marked with a healed adipose or ventral fin clip.
Season closure dates and open areas remain unchanged, but vary by stream so anglers are advised to check ODFW’s online.
