Recreational fishing rules change on the Columbia River due to low numbers of salmon, steelhead
Most of the Columbia River will close to all recreational salmon and steelhead fishing beginning Thursday, Sept. 26, state fishery managers have announced.
The closure comes at the tail end of a challenging year on the Columbia that saw low returns for many salmon and steelhead runs, according to Bill Tweit, the special assistant with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Despite record low numbers of summer steelhead, and poor ocean conditions, we have worked hard to offer meaningful fall Chinook fisheries in the Columbia, both above and below Bonneville, Tweit said. Offering those opportunities while meeting conservation guidelines is always a difficult balancing act, and one that we take very seriously.
Despite those challenges, fishery managers said that they still expect to meet conservation goals laid out at the beginning of the year.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/recreational-fishing-rules-change-on-the-columbia-river-due-to-low-numbers-of-salmon-steelhead/ar-AAHTkgO