Columbia Zone

Regulation Updates as of  October 29, 2020

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

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

Barbless Hooks are required when angling for salmon, steelhead, or trout in the mainstem Columbia River under permanent regulations.

For all fall salmonid fisheries, 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.

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 the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore.

General regulations through December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) wild Coho must be released, 2) retention of jack salmon allowed effective October 1 ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult hatchery Coho (16-inches and longer), and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two adult salmonids,only one may be a steelhead.

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 navigation marker at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore upstream to Bonneville Dam.

General regulations through December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) wild Coho must be released, 2) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult hatchery Coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two adult salmonids, only one may be a steelhead.

Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam ^a

General regulations through December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) all Coho (adults and jacks) retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be hatchery fish, 2) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult Coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two adult salmonids, only one may be a steelhead.

The Dalles Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA)^a

General regulations through December 31: When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) retention of jack salmon allowed^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult Coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two adult salmonids, only one may be a steelhead.

^a Temporary rules for Thermal Angling Sanctuaries associated with Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River are described below. 

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

Summary of 2020 summer/fall salmon and steelhead regulations for Columbia River Thermal Angling Sanctuaries and associated Oregon tributaries*.

The sanctuary boundaries span zones so rule modifications are needed in both the Central and Columbia River zones.

Eagle Creek (Central Zone)

Area definition:  From the angling deadline in Eagle Creek (200 feet downstream of hatchery fishway entrance) downstream to the mouth at the mainline railroad bridge.

• September 16 - November 30: Salmonid angling and retention prohibited.
• December 1 – 31:  One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.

Eagle Creek Mouth (Columbia River Zone)

Area definition: The mainstem Columbia River adjacent to the mouth of Eagle Creek from the mainline railroad bridge northwest to a line projecting from a marker on the Oregon shore approximately 200 feet downstream of Eagle Creek, through red navigation buoy #4, and terminating at a marker on the Oregon shore approximately 325 feet upstream of Eagle Creek.

• September 16-December 31:  See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.

Herman Creek (Columbia River Zone)

Area definition: From the mainline railroad bridge downstream to markers at mouth.

• July 15 –November 30:  Closed to angling.
• December 1 – 31:  One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.

Herman Creek Lagoon (Columbia River Zone)

Area definition: Herman Creek Lagoon/Cove east of a line from the northwest tip of the jetty, south to a marker on the Oregon shore.

• September 16-December 31:  See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.

Herman Creek Youth and Disabled Angler Angling Area (Columbia River Zone)

Area definition: West of the peninsula from the markers at the mouth to lower Herman Cr. Pond structure.

• This area remains open for salmon and steelhead consistent with regulations for Columbia mainstem from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.  This area is open to youth angling (ages 17 and under) and Oregon Disabilities Hunting and Fishing Permit Holders only.

Deschutes River (Central Zone)

Area definition:  From markers at lower end of Moody Rapids downstream to the mouth at Interstate 84 Bridge.

• September 16 – December 31 One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.

Deschutes River Mouth (Columbia River Zone)

Area definition:  The mainstem Columbia River adjacent to the mouth of the Deschutes River from the Interstate 84 Bridge north to a line projecting from the flashing red navigation marker #2 located approximately 1.5 miles downstream of the Deschutes River mouth on the Oregon shore, upstream to the red navigation marker #4, then to the lower South Channel Range “B” marker located on the Oregon shore approximately 0.7 mile upstream of the Deschutes River mouth.

• September 16-December 31:  See rules for Columbia mainstem from The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam.

John Day River (downstream of Tumwater Falls)

November 1 – December 31: one hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.

• Permanent regulations apply for other sections of the above tributaries

STURGEON

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam

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

COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam (Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, McNary Pool)

Closed to retention of sturgeon for the remainder of the year. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed.

COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES

COLUMBIA RIVER MANAGEMENT FACT SHEETS

COLUMBIA RIVER INFORMATION

COLUMBIA RIVER DAM COUNTS