Chinook salmon fishing below the Bonneville Dame now open until April 9
OLYMPIA – With lower-than-expected catches in March and early April, fishery managers from Washington and Oregon announced this week that the recreational spring Chinook fishery below Bonneville Dam will have four additional days of fishing opportunity.
The stretch of the river from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam, which was previously scheduled to close to Chinook salmon fishing on April 5, will now be open through Tuesday, April 9.
“Catch rates have been low, which allowed us to add additional fishing time,” said Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River fisheries manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “This fishing opportunity provides immediate access at a time we can accurately anticipate catches while also ensuring a conservative approach until we get a run size update in May.”
Fishing is permitted from the Buoy 10 line at the Columbia River mouth upstream to Beacon Rock (including boat and bank), plus bank angling by hand-cast only from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline. The daily limit is six, including no more than two adults, of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook and no more than one may be a hatchery steelhead.
The spring Chinook fishery above Bonneville Dam upstream to the Washington/Oregon border opened April 1 and runs through May 2 under similar rules.
Fishery managers will monitor the fisheries, dam counts, and hatchery returns in-season and announce additional changes if needed.
Anglers should review the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for the waters they plan to fish, as well as check for any emergency rule changes before heading out.
To receive regulation updates and other information via email, subscribe to the Columbia River fishery notices mailing list.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.
Also read:
- The Study of Sports Podcast, May 8, 2025: Girls flag football is coming to Washington high schools, but how do administrators start a new sport?
Reporter Paul Valencia and sports administrators Tony Liberatore and Cale Piland discuss local sports first, and we have fun with other topics, too, including news about a famous burger restaurant coming to Vancouver - Changing roles: Brian Witherspoon accepts position as head coach of Camas girls basketballBrian Witherspoon has been hired to lead the Camas girls basketball program after serving as interim boys coach last season.
- Former Vancouver sports administrator, now working in Nevada, predicts big things for girls flag footballAlbert Alcantar, now in Las Vegas, says Washington’s new WIAA-sanctioned girls flag football program could mirror the success Nevada has already seen.
- Vancouver selected for National Million Coaches Challenge
Vancouver Parks and Recreation has been chosen to participate in the Million Coaches Challenge, a national initiative to train youth sports coaches in inclusive, developmentally focused practices. - WDFW approves eight days of coastal razor clam digs beginning April 26WDFW has approved eight days of razor clam digs beginning April 26, with tentative final digs set for May 10–15, pending marine toxin test results.
