Spring Chinook angling on the Columbia River is open from Tower Island powerlines upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam, plus the banks between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island powerlines.
White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam but remains an option for catch and release fishing.
The McNary Pool is open to the retention of legal white sturgeon through July 31.
Walleye angling is good in The Dalles and John Day Pools.
The official trout season opener is this Saturday. Southwest Washington lakes have been well-stocked in advance of the event.
Salmon/Steelhead
The 551 adult spring Chinook counted at Bonneville Dam through April 22 are the second lowest on record. The record low are the 427 adults counted through April 22, 2006. However, more than 126,000 spring Chinook were tallied crossing the dam by the end of that season (June 15, 2006).
Cowlitz River — From the I-5 Bridge downstream: 143 bank rods kept one adult spring Chinook and six steelhead and released one steelhead. Eighteen boat rods kept two adult spring Chinook. Above the I-5 Bridge: 195 bank rods kept seven adult spring Chinook and 22 steelhead and released two steelhead. 91 boat rods kept three adult and 1 jack spring Chinook and 20 steelhead and released one steelhead.
Bank anglers should note the south side of the river from Mill Creek to the Barrier Dam is closed to all fishing from May 1 through June 15 per permanent regulations.
Kalama River — 29 bank anglers kept one adult spring Chinook and released five steelhead. Ten boat anglers kept one adult spring Chinook and released three steelhead.
Lewis River mainstem — 39 bank rods kept one adult spring Chinook. Sixteen boat rods kept one adult spring Chinook and released one adult spring Chinook.
North Fork Lewis River — 56 bank rods kept 1 adult spring Chinook 43 boat rods kept 7 adult spring Chinook and released one steelhead.
Under current rules, the Lewis (including North Fork) closes for spring Chinook effective May 1. Also, the area from Johnson Creek upstream to the dam is closed to all fishing during the month of May.
Wind River — 12 boat anglers had no catch. Anglers should be aware that there will be changes to the regualtions starting May 1. Please check the regulations before fishing.
Drano Lake — Two bank anglers had no catch. 57 boat anglers kept 8 adult spring Chinook
Klickitat River — Five bank anglers had no catch.
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia mainstem below Bonneville Dam — All fishing for sturgeon will be closed from May 1 through Aug. 31 in the sturgeon sanctuary from Bonneville Dam downstream nine miles to a line crossing the Columbia River from navigation Marker 82 on the Oregon shore westerly to the boundary marker on the Washington shore upstream of Fir Point.
Bonneville Pool — Angling for sturgeon will be prohibited from May 1 through July 31 between The Dalles Dam downstream 1.8 miles to a line from the east (upstream) dock at the Port of The Dalles boat ramp straight across to a marker on the Washington shore.
The Dalles Pool — Under rules to protect spawning fish, fishery is closed for sturgeon from John Day Dam downstream 2.4 miles to the west end of the grain silo at Rufus, Ore., May 1 through July 31. Weekly checking showed no catch for eight bank anglers.Four sublegal and two oversize sturgeon released for one boat (four anglers).
John Day Pool — Under permanent rules to protect spawning fish, closed to fishing for sturgeon from McNary Dam downstream 1.5 miles to Hwy. 82 Bridge (Hwy. 395) May 1 through July 31. Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).
The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam) — Weekly checking showed one adult spring Chinook kept for 13 bank anglers.
Walleye
Bonneville Pool — Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (one angler).
The Dalles Pool — Weekly checking showed one walleye kept for one bank angler; and 20 walleye kept for four boats (10 anglers).
John Day Pool — Weekly checking showed 111 walleye kept, plus 34 walleye released for 57 boats (128 anglers).
