Columbia Zone

Regulation Updates as of  August 5, 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.

Quick Links Fall Seasons (August 1-December 31 timeframe) Boundary Maps Thermal Angling Sanctuaries ** Jack bag limit STURGEON

Fall Season (August 1-December 31 timeframe)

Boundary Maps: Toung Point/Rocky Point Line (jpg) West Puget Island Line (pdf) Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island Line  (jpg)

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 during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, 2) wild coho must be released, 3) retention of jack salmon prohibited until October 1 ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1 – 13: Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • August 14 –27:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (16-inches and longer) allowed.  All steelhead must be released.
  • August 28 – September 22:  Retention of adult hatchery coho allowed.  All Chinook and steelhead must be released.
  • September 23 – October 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (16-inches and longer) allowed.  All steelhead must be released.
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult hatchery coho (16-inches and longer), and hatchery steelhead allowed. 

Tongue Point/Rocky Point upstream to west Puget Island

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 a line at the west end of Puget Island extending from green navigation marker #39 on the Washington shore to green navigation marker #41, then to red navigation marker #42, and terminating at red navigation marker #44A on the Oregon shore.

General regulations during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, 2) wild coho must be released, and 3) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1 – 13: Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • August 14 –27:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • August 28 – September 22:  Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 23 – October 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. 

West Puget Island upstream to Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island

Area definition: From a line at the west end of Puget Island extending from green navigation marker #39 on the Washington shore to green navigation marker #41, then to red navigation marker #42, and terminating at red navigation marker #44A on the Oregon shore upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to red navigation buoy #4, then to the piling dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island.

General regulations during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, 2) wild coho must be released, and 3) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1 – 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released.
  • September 1 – 22:  Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 23 – October 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. 

Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam

Area definition: From a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to red navigation buoy #4, then to the piling dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam.

General regulations during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, 2) wild coho must be released, and 3) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1-6:  Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • August 7 – September 6:
    • Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (Aug 7-9, 14-16, 21-23, 28-30, and Sep 4-6):  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released.
    • Monday thru Thursday (Aug 10-13, 17-20, 24-27, and Aug 31-Sep 3):  Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 7 – 22:  Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 23 – October 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult hatchery coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. 

Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam ^a

General regulations during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, 2) all coho (adults and jacks) retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge must be hatchery fish, and 3) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1 – September 8:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • September 9 – 22:  Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 23 – October 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • November 1 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches), adult coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. 

The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam ^a

General regulations during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, 2) all steelhead must be released, and 3) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1 – September 8:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  September 9 – 22: Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 23 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.

John Day Dam upstream to the Hwy 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA)

General regulations during August 1 – December 31:  When salmonid angling is allowed, 1) the daily adult bag limit is one salmonid, and 2) retention of jack salmon allowed ^b.

• Additional regulations by date period are described below:
  • August 1 – 31:  Retention of adult (longer than 24-inches) Chinook, adult coho (longer than 20-inches), and hatchery steelhead allowed. 
  • September 1 – 8:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released. 
  • September 9 – 22: Salmonid angling prohibited.
  • September 23 – December 31:  Retention of adult Chinook (longer than 24-inches) and adult coho (longer than 20-inches) allowed.  All steelhead must be released.

^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.

• June 16 – July 14:  One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.
• July 15 – September 15:  Closed to angling.
• 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.

• June 16 –July 14 and September 16-December 31:  See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
• July 15 – September 15:  Closed to angling.

 

Herman Creek (Columbia River Zone)

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

• June 16 – July 14:  One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit.
• 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.

• June 16 –July 14 and September 16-December 31:  See rules for Columbia mainstem Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
• July 15 – September 15:  Closed to angling.

 

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.

• June 16 – December 31:  One hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit except closed to angling July 15-September 15.

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.

• June 16 –July 14 and September 16-December 31:  See rules for Columbia mainstem from The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam.
• July 15 – September 15:  Closed to angling.

John Day River (downstream of Tumwater Falls)

• June 16 – August 31:  one hatchery steelhead allowed in the adult salmonid daily limit
• September 1 – December 31: closed to steelhead retention

• Permanent regulations apply for other sections of the above tributaries

 

STURGEON

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.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Wauna Powerlines 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 except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.

COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam

Bonneville Reservoir (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam)

• Closed to retention of sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.

The Dalles Reservoir (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam)

• Closed to retention of sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.

John Day Reservoir (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam)

• Closed to the retention of white sturgeon. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed except in sanctuary closure areas during May 1-August 31.

See 2020 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations  for sanctuary closure areas and size, daily, and annual bag limits when open for retention.

COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES

COLUMBIA RIVER MANAGEMENT FACT SHEETS

COLUMBIA RIVER INFORMATION

COLUMBIA RIVER DAM COUNTS