This weekend is a free fishing weekend in Washington. Anglers can fish Saturday and Sunday without having to buy a license. State parks are also free this weekend.
Angling for spring Chinook jacks is open between Tongue Point and the I-5 Bridge, although fishing is very poor.
Angling for shad is open from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam, and the fishing has been good.
White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia upstream to McNary Dam but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing. Anglers are reminded that spawning sanctuaries took effect May 1.
Walleye angling is good in the John Day Pool, and improving in the Bonneville Pool.
Panfish and bass are biting in local lakes
Trout fishing continues to be good in local lakes.
Salmon/Steelhead
Columbia River Mainstem
Buoy 10 upstream to Chief Joseph Dam — Effective June 1 until further notice, barbless hooks are now voluntary for salmon and steelhead fisheries.
Columbia River Tributaries
Kalama River — From the mouth upstream to the 6600 Road Bridge immediately downstream of Jacks Creek, use of barbless hooks is voluntary until further notice. From the mouth to 1,000 feet below the fishway at the upper salmon hatchery, the daily salmon limit is six fish of which only one may be an adult.
Lewis River — Until further notice, from the mouth to Merwin Dam: Closed to salmon retention.
Wind River — From the mouth to 800 yards below Carson National Fish Hatchery: Closed to salmon and steelhead angling until further notice.
Drano Lake — Closed to salmon and steelhead angling until further notice.
Klickitat River — Effective June 5 until further notice, closed to salmon retention.
Shad
Gorge bank — Weekend checking showed 1,730 shad kept for 212 bank anglers.
Portland to St. Helens boats — Weekend checking showed 23 shad kept for two shad boats (four anglers).
Bonneville Pool — Weekly checking showed 585 shad kept, plus 83 shad released for 141 shad anglers.
The Dalles Pool — Weekly checking showed 131 shad kept, plus 170 shad released for 25 shad anglers.
John Day Pool — Weekly checking showed three shad kept, plus 25 shad released for four shad boats.
Sturgeon
Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna Powerlines — Closed to retention Bank: Weekend checking showed no catch for 21 bank anglers.
Boats: Weekend checking showed 156 legal white sturgeon kept, plus 273 sublegal, 326 oversize and three green sturgeon released for 262 boats (925 anglers).
Bonneville Pool — Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed two sublegal and two legal white sturgeon released for two boats (three anglers).
The Dalles Pool — Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed six sublegal sturgeon released for one boat (two anglers).
John Day Pool — Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed two sublegal sturgeon released for seven boats (23 anglers).
Recent trout plants
Klineline Pond — Planted with 1,500 rainbow trout at 2.6 per pound.
Goose Lake — Planted with 1,500 rainbow trout at 2.5 per pound.
Rowland Lake — Planted with 1,562 rainbow trout at 2.5 per pound.
Spearfish Lake — Planted with 2,028 rainbow trout at 2.6 per pound.
Walleye
Bonneville Pool — Weekly checking showed five walleye kept for one boat (three anglers).
The Dalles Pool — Weekly checking showed seven walleye kept for 13 boats (32 anglers).
John Day Pool — Weekly checking showed 98 walleye kept, plus 36 walleye released for 45 boats (108 anglers).
