Hoopengarner on Outdoors
509-582-1544
Steelheaders can expect season this year
Finally, some good news for beleaguered Tri-City steelhead anglers.
After being shut out for two seasons, anglers could soon be netting Columbia River steelhead above the Highway 395 (blue bridge) in Pasco.
In a deal being brokered between the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the National Marine Fisheries Service, anglers are likely to see a reopening of steelhead fishing above the Tri-Cities beginning Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.
Jim Cummins, a Fish and Wildlife department biologist in Yakima, said the season appears fairly certain after the state convinced the federal fisheries agency that endangered upriver steelhead runs would not be greatly effected by reopening the season.
"Opening the season Oct. 1 would allow about 90 percent of the endangered upriver wild stock to reach Wells Hatchery and surrounding spawning areas," Cummins said.
The bulk of the recreational steelhead fishery, Cummins added, would be for hatchery-reared steelhead, including an estimated 3,000 bound for the Ringold area.
The season would allow anglers to keep two fin-clipped steelhead daily from the blue bridge upstream to the old Hanford townsite wooden powerline towers.
The reopening of steelheading on the Columbia above Pasco is especially good news in light of the large run of steelhead surging up the Columbia.
Joe Hymer, a state Fish and Wildlife department biologist in Vancouver, said about 200,000 steelhead have been tallied at Bonneville Dam, with about 120,000 fish still lingering in the pool and cooler tributaries.
"As the water begins cool in September, though, the fish will begin migrating upstream pretty quickly, so Tri-City anglers should begin to see fish up that way fairly soon."
Hymer said that this year's run is still on target to reach 400,000 to 500,00 steelhead entering the Columbia, nearly 112 times the
10-year average.
"What we're tracking now is the 'B-run' component, which are the larger Idaho-bound fish. These are fish that will average 12 to 18 pounds," he added.
Cummins said state and federal officials are confident the combination of wild and hatchery-reared Wells stock will be sufficient to help with recovery efforts of the run that spawns in upper Columbia River tributaries such as the Wenatchee and Methow.
Not only will anglers most likely be able to keep fish above Pasco this fall, the action should also be hot above McNary Dam later this fall and on the Snake River, where anglers can begin keeping hatchery steelhead beginning Friday.
Anglers are reminded that barbless hooks are required on the Snake for steelhead.
Moreover, with a fine run of fall upriver bright chinook salmon expected this year, plans also are in the hopper to open two sections of the Yakima River to chinook and coho fishing.
Cummins said the Yakima River is set to open Sept. 16 through Oct. 31 in two areas.
The first stretch is from the Highway 240 bridge in Richland upstream to 400 feet below Prosser Dam. The second is from the eastbound lane of Interstate 82 in Union Gap to 400 feet below Roza Dam.
In these stretches, anglers can keep two salmon of either species daily.
There is no size limit and no special restrictions on bait or tackle.
Cummins said only 180 salmon were caught on the Yakima last year, the second year a season has been offered in modern angling history.
"I believe, though, that as more people figure out how to fish for salmon in the river, the catch rates will go up. But fall chinook are not that easy to catch, but coho should be easier," he said.
The state also is proposing to open the lower Naches River to salmon fishing for the first time.
The area open to fishing - for either coho or kings - is from the mouth, or its confluence with the Yakima, upstream to the confluence of Tieton River.
On the Naches, however, anglers are not allowed to use bait and single barbless hooks are required.
"The run is mostly hatchery-reared coho from fish brought in by the Yakama Indian Nation and released from acclimation ponds," he said.
Tribal fishery officials are hopeful the salmon will successfully spawn and continue to rebuild decimated salmon populations in the Yakima River basin.
In a related salmon development, Oregon and Washington officials plan to reopen the Buoy 10 fishery Friday.
The daily catch limit would permit anglers to keep two salmon, including one chinook.
Sports home | Americans | Posse | Area sports | Riley | Outdoors | Area golf