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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sturgeon fisheries closed on two sections of the Columbia River

FISHING – Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon have set closure dates for sturgeon fisheries on two sections of the Columbia River while deferring consideration of a recreational smelt fishery until more is known about the size of this year’s run, according to a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife news release.

Starting on Feb. 4, anglers are required to release any sturgeon they intercept from Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam. In addition, the retention fishery for white sturgeon from John Day Dam to McNary Dam will close effective Feb. 12.

Both areas will remain open to catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon after those dates. That is also the case in The Dalles Pool, which closed to retention fishing Jan. 20 after reaching its annual harvest quota for the year.

There is a possibility of providing a summer sturgeon fishery from The Dalles Dam to the John Day Dam, where retention fishing for sturgeon closed Jan. 20, according to the news release.

Recreational smelt fishing on the Cowlitz River will be discussed, according to the news release.

In 2017, fishery managers approved a one-day recreational dip-net fishery on the Cowlitz River, based on the strength of last year’s commercial catch figures. Current projections indicate the 2018 run will be smaller than last year’s run.