Anglers attempt to bring a spring chinook to the net at the mouth of Wind River. (FILES/The Columbian)
State and tribal biologists are forecasting below average returns of spring chinook salmon to the Wind River and Drano Lake in the Columbia Gorge in 2017.
Forecasts released last week predict a return of 3,600 spring chinook to the Wind River, 7,500 to Drano Lake and 2,100 to the Klickitat River. Drano Lake is a large backwater at the mouth of the Little White Salmon River.
In 2016, Wind River had its worst return in many years, just 3,200 spring chinook.Drano Lake got 6,500 spring chinook back and the Klickitat River had a run of 2,000.
The forecasts for 2017 are similar to the 2016 returns, but only about half the 10-year average.
Poor ocean survival conditions appear to have had negative impacts on spring chinook. A weak return is predicted back to Oregon’s Willamette River.
In 2016, anglers caught 1,750 spring chinook from the Wind, 1,500 at Drano Lake and 350 in the Klickitat River.
Spring chinook fishing in Wind River and Drano Lake peak about the final week of April and first week of May.
Spring salmon fishing typically reaches its catch allocation in the lower Columbia River in early April, causing many Southwest Washington anglers to shift their attention to Wind River or Drano Lake.
Crowds are often norm at the two locations.
Strong west winds often make for challenging conditions at both spots.
Two federal hatcheries — Carson and Little White Salmon — fuel the spring chinook programs.
Carson National Fish Hatchery on the upper Wind River needs about 1,500 spring chinook for spawning. Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery, just upstream of Drano Lake, needs 1,000 and Klickitat Hatchery needs 500.
Morning Briefing Newsletter
Get a rundown of the latest local and regional news every Mon-Fri morning.
