FISHING -- Better news for steelheaders in the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River in this report from Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist in the Tri-Cities:

Over the past six weeks an estimated 574 hatchery steelhead have been harvested in the Hanford Reach.  Steelhead fishing picked up during the past two weeks after having been very slow in October.  WDFW staff interviewed 139 anglers last week that reported 68 steelhead caught, 62 of these were hatchery origin (adipose clipped). Anglers averaged a steelhead for every 3.3 hours of fishing. An estimated 219 hatchery steelhead were harvested during the week. 

The Columbia River is open to fishing for hatchery steelhead upstream to the wooden powerline towers at the old Hanford townsite through March 31, 2015.  On Thanksgiving a second section of the Hanford Reach will open for steelhead fishing, Vernita Bridge (Hwy 24 bridge) upstream to Priest Rapids Dam.