(CLACKAMAS, Ore. 5/7/25) —Following an in-season assessment of the upriver spring Chinook return, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington added more recreational spring Chinook fishing days on the mainstem Columbia during a joint state hearing today.
Fishery biologists with the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) expect the upriver-origin adult spring Chinook return to meet the preseason forecast of 122,500 fish. Enough recreational allocation remains to offer more fishing opportunity, while staying within allowed ESA impact rates and other management limits.
As of May 5, a total of 58,277 adult spring Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam, which is greater than the recent 10- and 5-year average cumulative count for this date (48,698 and 38,986 fish, respectively). Typically, about 33 percent of the upriver-origin spring Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam by May 5.
Open dates, areas, and bag limits for adult fish for the days added today follow:
Downstream of Bonneville Dam
Dates: Friday, May 9 through Thursday, May 22
Open area: Tongue Point/Rocky Point line upstream to Beacon Rock plus only the Oregon and Washington banks from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline. For exact boundaries visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone#Regulation-Updates
Daily Adult Bag Limit: Two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
Shad may also be retained.
Upstream of Bonneville Dam
Dates: Saturday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 13
Open area: Tower Island power lines (approximately six miles below the Dalles Dam) upstream to the Oregon/Washington border, plus only the Oregon and Washington banks from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines.
Daily Adult Bag limit: Two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
Shad may also be retained.
All other permanent regulations apply, including the permanent retention regulations for hatchery steelhead (which differ above and below I-5 Bridge) on days when hatchery spring Chinook retention is not allowed.
Anglers are reminded that from March 1 through June 15 on days when the mainstem Columbia River recreational fishery below Bonneville Dam is open to retention of Chinook, the daily salmonid bag limit in Oregon and Washington Select Areas will be the same as mainstem Columbia River bag limits.
For the latest on Columbia River fishing regulations, visit https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone#Regulation-Updates