Recreation Report
Columbia Zone
Regulation Updates
Regulation Updates as of February 24, 2021
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.
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Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam:
- January 1, 2021-February 28, 2021: permanent rules are in effect. See e-regulations for additional details.
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March 1, 2021-April 4, 2021: the following area, retention, and daily bag limits apply.
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Area definition: Buoy 10 line upstream to Beacon Rock (boat and bank) plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline, except salmon and steelhead angling from a boat is prohibited in the spring salmonid boat angling closure area adjacent to the Cowlitz River mouth (definition below).
Spring Salmonid Boat Angling Closure Area (see Map): Defined as the area of the mainstem Columbia River between boundary lines as described and includes all of Carrolls Channel (from the upstream end of Cottonwood Island downstream to the Cowlitz and Columbia River confluence).
- Downstream boundary – From a point on the Washington shore projected through Dolphin Marker J (near Shipping Terminal 9), southerly across the Columbia River to Columbia Park Boat Ramp in Rainier, Oregon.
- Upstream boundary – From a point on the Washington shore projected through Cottonwood Island Dike Light “31”, southerly across the Columbia River to a deadline marker on the Oregon shore.
- Retention allowed: open for hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead. Shad may also be retained.
- Daily bag limit: two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
- All other permanent rules apply, including catch limits for jack salmon.
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Area definition: Buoy 10 line upstream to Beacon Rock (boat and bank) plus bank angling only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline, except salmon and steelhead angling from a boat is prohibited in the spring salmonid boat angling closure area adjacent to the Cowlitz River mouth (definition below).
Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam
- January 1, 2021-March 15, 2021: permanent rules are in effect. See e-regulations for additional details.
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March 16, 2021-May 5, 2021: the following area, retention, and daily bag limits apply.
- Area Definition: Tower Island power lines (approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam) upstream to The Dalles Dam, plus the Oregon and Washington banks between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines.
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- Retention allowed: open for hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead. Shad remains open under permanent rule.
- Daily bag limit: two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
- All other permanent rules apply, including catch limits for jack salmon.
The Dalles Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA)
- January 1, 2021-March 15, 2021: retention of hatchery steelhead allowed with a one steelhead adult daily bag limit. All other permanent rules apply including the release of all Chinook, Coho, and wild steelhead.
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March 16, 2021-May 5, 2021: the following area, retention, and daily bag limits apply.
- Area Definition: The Dalles Dam upstream to OR/WA Border (upstream of McNary Dam).
- Retention allowed: open for hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead. Shad remains open under permanent rule.
- Daily bag limit: two adult hatchery salmonids (Chinook or steelhead) per day, but only one may be a Chinook.
- All other permanent rules apply, including catch limits for jack salmon.
Select Area Recreational Salmon Fisheries
- January 1, 2021-February 28, 2021: permanent rules are in effect. See e-regulations for additional details.
- March 1, 2021-June 15, 2021: on days when the mainstem Columbia River recreational fishery below Bonneville Dam is open to retention of Chinook, the salmonid daily bag limit in Oregon and Washington Select Areas will be the same as mainstem Columbia River bag limits.
On days when the mainstem Columbia River recreational fishery below Bonneville Dam is closed to Chinook retention, the permanent salmonid bag limit regulations for Select Areas apply.
STURGEON
See 2021 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for legal size, daily, and annual bag limits.
COLUMBIA RIVER RESERVOIRS, between Bonneville Dam and McNary Dam (Bonneville Pool, The Dalles Pool, John Day Pool)
Bonneville Reservoir (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam)
- Bonneville Pool and adjacent tributaries are closed to the retention of white 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)
- The Dalles Pool and adjacent tributaries are closed to the retention of white 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)
- Effective January 1, 2021 until further notice: permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including open to the retention of white sturgeon until quota (105 fish) reached.
COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES
Recreation Report
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Send us your fishing report
We’d love to hear about your recent fishing experience. Send us your own fishing report through ODFW Fishing Reports―the information will be forwarded to the local biologist who may use it to update various ODFW resources such as the weekly Recreation Report.
Tips to recreate responsibly
We continue to urge anglers and others recreating outside to stay close to home, keep your social distance, and travel safely. Here’s more information about how to recreate responsibly.
FISHING UPDATES
Current and upcoming fishing opportunities:
- Effective Jan. 1, 2021, salmonid fisheries from Buoy 10 upstream to The Dalles Dam open under permanent rules. Consult the angling regulation pamphlet for additional information. A few winter steelhead should be available on the beaches of the lower Columbia River.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2021, steelhead fisheries from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Hwy 395 Bridge near Pasco, Washington remain open under previously adopted rules including the one steelhead bag limit (see Sport Fishing Regulations Updates page for additional regulation details).
- White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to the John Day Dam but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing (see Sport Fishing Regulations Updates page for additional regulation details).
- The retention of white sturgeon is allowed from the John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam. Consult the angling regulation pamphlet for size limits, and daily and annual bag limits. Sturgeon fisheries in the John Day Pool are managed on a quota basis and can close on short notice. Sturgeon anglers should check the weather before planning a trip into the gorge.
Columbia River regulation updates for salmon, steelhead, shad and sturgeon can be found above.
Salmon, Steelhead and shad
Angler participation slowed last week with the arrival of snow and ice.
Gorge Bank:
No report.
Gorge Boats:
No report.
Troutdale Boats:
No report.
Portland to Westport Bank:
Weekly checking showed no catch for 33 bank anglers.
Portland to St. Helens Boats:
No report.
Goble to Beaver (Clatskanie) Boats:
No report.
Wauna Powerlines to Clatsop Spit Bank:
No report.
Westport to Buoy 10 Boats:
No report.
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):
No report.
The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam):
No report.
John Day Pool (Columbia River above John Day Dam and John Day Arm):
No report.
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):
Closed for retention. No report.
Bonneville Pool:
Closed for retention. No report.
The Dalles Pool:
Closed for retention. No report.
John Day Pool:
Catch rates have slowed down with the arrival of snow and ice, and the water temperature has dropped. Looks for the bite to pick back up when the water temperature rises above 40°F.
Walleye
Bonneville Pool:
No report.
The Dalles Pool:
No report.
John Day Pool:
No report.