On July 14th the WDFW announced that there would be opportunities for anglers to take Chinook salmon with “bubble fisheries” above Priest Rapids Dam, with short week openings to extend the season. The sockeye fisheries in the upper Columbia were also limited to the short weeks. On Tuesday the department announced that all sockeye fishing is to be closed. Even with the limit reduced to two fish per day the recreational harvest had been reached. This is the result of the lowest return of sockeye to the region for several years. Along with the announcement of the closure of the sockeye season on the upper Columbia the department eliminated many of the bubble fisheries and left the stretch from Rocky Reach Dam open to the retention of Chinook salmon. Fishing will be allowed from Wednesday to Saturday, with a one fish limit of one adult hatchery Chinook. All sockeye, coho and wild adult Chinook must be released. This comes after the announcement of the opening of Lake Wenatchee to sockeye fishing on July 23rd, with a four fish limit. Lake Wenatchee was relatively uncrowded last season with the Brewster Pool open with a four fish limit. It will be different this year.