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Reports > 2009 > February > Wednesday 18
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
 
By Dave Graybill
 
There is very good news coming from the WDFW regarding the spring Chinook salmon fishery on the Columbia River. If pre-season forecasts hold up, and the nearly 300,000 spring salmon show up, it could be the largest return of springers the third highest since 1977. Although both the commercial and sport fishing seasons on the lower river have been expanded in anticipation of the boom return, there are regulations in place to help assure that we get good numbers of fish to the upper Columbia. It could be possible to see excellent returns of spring salmon to both the Icicle and Entiat rivers. The Entiat opened to spring salmon fishing last year for the first time in many years. In all areas on the lower river any salmon not clearly market as a hatchery-reared fish must be released. Unmarked steelhead must also be released. Below McNary Dam anglers may retain two hatchery-reared adult salmon or steelhead, or one of each, per day. Only one adult Chinook may be retained per day below Bonneville Dam. Incidental mortality of wild salmon and steelhead for both commercial and sport fishers is being held to just 2.2 percent this year. Here’s hoping a bunch of fish make it up here and we have good seasons on the Icicle and Entiat.