Beginning July 1st anglers are going to be able to keep two hatchery sturgeon per day from the Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs, according to a recent news release from WDFW. Several thousand juvenile sturgeon were released from into the upper Columbia in 2003 and these hatchery fish have grown to harvestable size. Anglers will be able to keep two hatchery sturgeon per day, between 38 and 72 inches, from Wanapum and Priest Rapids reservoirs. Sturgeon caught in these two reservoirs will not count toward the angler’s annual limit for sturgeon. Anglers will not be required to record sturgeon harvested from these two reservoirs on their catch record cards. Angler participation and success will determine whether the WDFW will allow continued fishing after the scheduled closing date of this fishery on September, 30th. I encourage anglers to read the complete details on this fishery. Please visit the department’s web site and look under new fishing rules. This the first time in nearly two decades anglers have been allowed to retain sturgeon in this section of the Columbia River.