Lower Yakima River spring chinook season set
FISHING -- The spring chinook fishing season on the lower Yakima river has been set for April 29-June 15, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Thursday.
- Location: From the Hwy. 240 bridge in Richland (river mile 2.1) to the Grant Avenue Bridge in Prosser (river mile 47.0) approximately 1,000 feet downstream of Prosser Dam.
- Reason for action: Yakama Nation (YN) and WDFW fishery managers are forecasting a total return of 4,610 adult spring chinook to the Yakima River in 2016 (3,100 wild and 1,510 hatchery fish), representing 55% of the recent 10-year (2006-2015) average adult return of 8,320 spring chinook. Consequently, the hatchery adult daily limit has been reduced from two to one fish this year.
Other information:
- Daily limit of two (2) chinook, including one (1) adult hatchery chinook. Minimum size 12 inches. Hatchery salmon are identified by a missing adipose fin and a healed scar in the location of the missing fin. Wild adult chinook (adipose fin intact; greater than 24 inches total length) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
- Once the adult portion of the daily limit is retained, continuing to fish for salmon (i.e., hatchery or wild jacks) is prohibited.
- Terminal gear is restricted to two, single-point, barbless hooks with a hook gap from point to shank of 3/4 inch or less when fishing for salmon. Use of bait is allowed.
- For the duration of this salmon fishery, the Yakima River adjacent to the USBR Chandler Powerhouse/Pumping Station is closed to all fishing from the WDFW white markers 200’ downstream of the spillway chute to the power line crossing immediately upstream of the powerhouse.
- The use of two (2) fishing poles is permitted during the salmon fishery provided the participating angler has purchased a “Two-Pole Endorsement” (in addition to the freshwater fishing license and Columbia River salmon/steelhead endorsement).
- Fishing for steelhead remains closed. All steelhead (rainbow trout greater than 20” in total length) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
- A Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement is required to participate in this fishery.