Sturgeon retention closed in Bonneville, The Dalles pools after Jan. 3

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

http://www.dfw.state.or.us

CLACKAMAS, Ore.—Fishery managers from Oregon and Washington closed sturgeon retention in The Dalles and Bonneville Pools effective 11:59 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Jan. 3.

The closure areas are the Bonneville Pool (mainstem Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam, and all adjacent tributaries) and The Dalles Pool (mainstem Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam, and all adjacent tributaries).

Although fishery managers had planned to use a three-day-a week fishing season (Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays) in Bonneville and The Dalles pools to lengthen the 2024 season, weather and water conditions were perfect for sturgeon fishing on New Year's Day resulting in record angler effort in an already popular fishery. These conditions led to very high catch rates, and after Jan. 1, the total harvest was nearly 85 percent of the guideline in Bonneville Pool and 80 percent of the guideline in The Dalles Pool. Harvest is projected to be greater than 95 percent of the guideline in both pools after the Jan. 3 opener.

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing remains open in the mainstem upstream of Bonneville Dam, except angling for sturgeon is prohibited May 1-Aug. 31 within sanctuary areas below each of the dam tailraces. See the permanent regulations for details, https://www.eregulations.com/oregon/fishing/columbia-river-zone

Sturgeon retention remains open in John Day Pool.

Anglers should always check the Fishing Report for their zone and click Regulation Updates for the latest in-season regulation changes, https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/columbia-zone#Regulation-Updates

More Reports


OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Reports
for Wednesday, January 3rd
Grande Ronde River: Grande Ronde River Report
Wallowa Lake : Wallowa Lake Report
Wallowa River: Steelhead fishing should pick up throughout the winter on the Wallowa River
Crooked River: The Crooked continues to fish well this winter
Hood River: Winter steelhead are starting to show up in the Hood River
Detroit Reservoir: Water is again being released out of Detroit to maximize storage for the winter
Foster Reservoir: Currently the reservoir water looks unusually turbid
Santiam River ( North Fork) : North Fork Santiam River Fishing Report
Santiam River (South Fork): Currently flows are around 1,300 cfs at the Waterloo gauge as of Jan. 3
Walter Wirth Lake: Walter Wirth Lake Report
Kilchis River: There should be a few winter steelhead showing up in the Kilchis
Miami River: Access is limited on the Miami
Necanicum River: The Necanicum River should have hatchery steelhead throughout the fishery and wild fish showing up this month as well
Nehalem River: The only opportunity on the mainstem Nehalem will be wild winter steelhead
Nehalem River- North Fork: The North Fork Nehalem has hatchery steelhead throughout the fishery
Nestucca River: The best fishing will likely still be in the lower mainstem
Three Rivers: Three Rivers should have hatchery steelhead showing up
Trask River: There are fish in the Trask and more should be showing up as the winter progresses
Wilson River: Fishing on the Wilson should just keep improving as the season goes on
Ben Irving Reservoir: No recent reports from Ben Irving
Chetco River: River conditions have been excellent
Coos River: Steelhead fishing has been good in the Coos Basin rivers
Coquille River: Steelhead anglers have been catching hatchery winter steelhead
Diamond Lake: Some near shore ice may be present on some days
Lake Marie: Still no recent reports from anglers at Lake Marie
Lemolo Lake: No recent reports and snow may limit access
Plat I Reservoir: Conditions remain the same at Plat I
Rogue River- Lower: Very few boat anglers, but bank fishing pressure has picked up
Sixes River: Anglers are reminded that anglers fishing for steelhead in the Sixes are required to have the new wild steelhead validations
Umpqua River: Some winter steelhead have been being caught from Elkton to River Forks
North Umpqua River: Some steelhead have been spotted moving up the North Umpqua
South Umpqua River : Winter steelhead have started moving into the South Umpqua
Ana Reservoir: This reservoir does not ice over in winter and is a good place to catch rainbow trout and hybrid bass
Gerber Reservoir: The reservoir is likely starting to freeze
John C Boyle Reservoir: Large goldfish up 12 inches are also abundant but rarely caught
Klamath River - Upper - OR: Klamath River Fishing Report
Lake Of The Woods: The lake is ice free but is starting to freeze
Phillips Reservoir: If colder weather returns, the ice may begin to thicken
Pilcher Reservoir: Ice conditions may not be suitable for fishing because of the mild weather this winter
Thief Valley Reservoir: Thief Valley Reservoir currently is about 75 percent full and should slowly fill through the winter
Unity Reservoir: Recently, folks have had some good fishing from the bank at Unity Reservoir
McCloud River: There has been some good midge and Blue Wing Olive hatches
Recreational bottomfish change for 2024; anglers reminded cabezon harvest begins July 1

OR Department of Fish & Wildlife Staff

Report Date:

NEWPORT, Ore – Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, ODFW reminds recreational bottomfish anglers that: The recreational offshore longleader harvest limit increases to......

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