Columbia Zone

Regulation Updates as of October 21, 2019

These are in-season regulation changes adopted on a temporary or emergency basis. Please see e-regulations for permanent regulations.

Quick Links:

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

• Hook Regulation Update
• Columbia River, Buoy 10
• Columbia River, Tongue Pt. to Bonneville Dam.
• Columbia River, Bonneville to McNary Dam
• Columbia River, McNary Dam to OR/WA Border

*   Night angling closure

** Jack bag limit

STURGEON

All regulations may be subject to in-season modifications.

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

Hook regulation update:

Effective June 1, 2019 through November 28, 2019, the use of barbed hooks is allowed when angling for salmon, steelhead, or trout in the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon-Washington border located upstream of McNary Dam (RM 309.5).

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

• Fall Season (August 1-December 31 timeframe)

COLUMBIA RIVER, Buoy 10

• Area definition:  From the Buoy 10 line upstream to a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington shore through red navigation buoy #44 to red navigation marker #2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore.
• October 1 – December 31:  Retention of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed.  Retention of all Chinook prohibited.  The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmonids (coho and steelhead only), and may include up to one hatchery steelhead.  Hatchery coho jacks may be retained**. Night angling closure in effect*.

COLUMBIA RIVER, Tongue Point/Rocky Point upstream to Bonneville Dam

• Area definition: From a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington shore through red navigation buoy #44 to the red navigation marker #2 at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore upstream to Bonneville Dam.
• October 18-October 31: Retention of adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed. Retention of all Chinook and steelhead prohibited.  The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery coho. Hatchery coho jacks may also be retained. Each legal angler aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily adult salmonid bag limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.  Night angling closure in effect*.
• November 1 – December 31:   Retention of adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) and hatchery steelhead allowed. Retention of all Chinook prohibited.  The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmonids (coho and steelhead only) and may include up to one hatchery steelhead. Hatchery coho jacks may be retained.  Each legal angler aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily adult salmonid bag limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.  Night angling closure in effect*. All other permanent rules apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER, Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam

• October 18-October 31: Retention of adult coho (longer than 20-inches) and coho jacks allowed.  All coho (adults and jacks) retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be hatchery fish.  Release all steelhead and all salmon except coho.  The daily adult bag limit is two coho. Each legal angler aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily adult salmonid bag limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved.  Night angling closure in effect*.  All other permanent rules apply. 
• November 1-December 31:  Angling for and retention of all salmon (adults and jacks) and all steelhead prohibited.

COLUMBIA RIVER, The Dalles Dam upstream to McNary Dam

• Angling for and retention of all salmon (adults and jacks) and all steelhead prohibited for the remainder of the year.

COLUMBIA RIVER, McNary Dam upstream to the OR/WA Border (upstream of McNary Dam)

• Angling for and retention of all salmon (adults and jacks) and all steelhead prohibited for the remainder of the year. 

*       Night angling closure: Unlawful to angle for or take salmon, shad, steelhead, sturgeon, trout, or whitefish except during daylight hours (one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset).

**    The daily bag limit for jack salmon in Oregon is five fish.

STURGEON

All permanent regulations for sturgeon apply unless noted below (see e-regulations).

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 to Wauna Powerlines

• Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon, (see e-regulations). Catch-and-release fishing is allowed the remainder of the year.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville Dam

• Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon, except for the following modifications:
  • This area will be open to retention of white sturgeon on Saturday, October 19, 2019 and Thursday, October 24 (two days).
  • Daily bag limit is one white sturgeon, 44-50 inches fork length (fork length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the fork in the caudal fin (tail) with the fish laying on its side on a flat surface, with the tape measure/ruler positioned flat under the fish).
  • Annual bag limit is two white sturgeon (applicable to any/all retention fisheries in 2019).
  • Retention of green sturgeon prohibited.

• Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.  All other permanent rules apply.

COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam

Closed to retention of sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed. (see e-regulations)

Columbia River Information | Columbia River Dam Counts