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Hanford Reach steelhead catch lagging

This 1997 photo shows the salmon nesting area of the White Bluffs, located along the Hanford Reach on the Columbia River. (File/Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
This 1997 photo shows the salmon nesting area of the White Bluffs, located along the Hanford Reach on the Columbia River. (File/Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

FISHING -- Through November 30, anglers have harvested a total of 243 steelhead in the Hanford Reach (Hwy 395 to old Hanford townsite), according to a report just posted by Paul Hoffarth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries biologist for the area.

  • Roughly 50 percent of the steelhead encountered to date have been unclipped.
  • Both catch and harvest are well below last year’s fishery and the 10-year average. 
  • Anglers are averaging 20 pole hours for one hatchery steelhead. 
  • Bank anglers are faring a bit better than the boat anglers. 
Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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