Hatchery steelhead retention allowed Aug. 1-31 in the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to The Dalles Dam

CLACKAMAS, Ore.— Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington extended hatchery steelhead retention for recreational anglers on the mainstem Columbia River downstream of The Dalles Dam using joint state action yesterday. Steelhead retention was initially planned to be closed in this area beginning August 1.

With this extension, effective Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 31, retention of one hatchery steelhead is now allowed in the daily adult salmon/steelhead bag limit for the mainstem Columbia River from the Buoy 10 line upstream to the Highway 395 bridge in Pasco, WA.

The 2025 preseason forecast for upriver summer steelhead is very low, which originally led fishery managers to enact the suite of restrictive regulations used in the past several years to reduce fishery pressure on both hatchery- and natural-origin summer steelhead.

Steelhead passing Bonneville Dam from July 1 through October 31 are categorized as A-/B-Index summer steelhead for the purpose of fisheries management. Passage of these fish through July 30 (57,948 fish) has already surpassed the preseason forecasted total A-Index return (55,600 fish). Nearly all passage in July is comprised of A-Index steelhead and passage is typically only 30% complete through this date.

Due to the strong showing of A-Index steelhead at Bonneville, fishery managers decided there was an opportunity to provide additional steelhead harvest in August with very low risk of exceeding upriver summer steelhead ESA-impact limits.

All other previously-adopted regulations, including permanent regulations, remain in effect for these fisheries.

Find the latest on Columbia River fishing regulations.