2010 » February » 6

This post is courtesy of Shawn Richey aka Nookslayer…via his Uncle Dennis of Oregon Anglers. Thanks for doing this leg work buddy.


ILLUSTRATION FROM ‘WWW.NASCO.INT’

“I (Dennis Richey) attended the ODFW Commission meeting today, and they made public the numbers for our spring fishing.

*Anticipated return of Columbia River Spring Chinook: 470,000
Willamette River Spring Chinook: 62,700 (both are probably conservative)

*Of these Sport fishermen get: 21,750 or 71% allowed catch of hatchery fish

*Commercial fishermen get: 8,750 or 29% allowed catch of hatchery fish

This will allow at least 45 days of fishing in the Columbia R. in April and May.

Commercial impact will be in March and April, if quota left over, they will get to finsh their impact in May.

The 45/ 55 split (commercial/ Sport) OF MORTALLITY TO THE WILD FISH below Bonneville Dam actually means a much higher percentage to the sport anglers because of the difference in estimated catch mortality on the wild fish we have to return.

Sport anglers share their quota: 75% below Bonneville/ 25% above. Below Bonneville the fishery will, most likely, be below I-205 freeway.

A buffer of 40% of the estimated run is being held out to make sure the tribes get their share of the fish. (We urged a buffer of 30%) IF the run appears to be higher at the run size update, several weeks into the run, the comission MAY upgrade our catch and extend the season. I would be suprised if this does not happen.

This does mean there should be plenty of fish in the Col. R. tributaries- get ready! The Deschutes will have a 2 fish/day Chinook season this year.

Scenarios of what days etc. have not been determined.”