Anglers flocking to catch Hanford kings

SALMON FISHING — Harvest and effort continues to increase in the Hanford Reach fall Chinook fishery on the Columbia River below Priest Rapids Dam.

Washington Fish and Wildlife Columbia River fisheries biologists report an estimated 3,407 boats fished for salmon in the Hanford Reach this past week through Sunday, up from 2,942 last week .

Paul Hoffarth, biologist in the Tri-Cities, said that despite the bigger crowd, the catch rate increased to 1.9 salmon per boat, up from 1.5 last week.

WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 779 boats (1,999 anglers:13,126 pole hours).  An estimated 5,729 adult chinook and 752 jacks were harvested this past week.

Interviews with 212 bank anglers (1,097 hours) fishing for salmon at Ringold found they’d harvested 27 chinook. Anglers are also finding a few coho in their catch!

There were an estimated 9,146 angler trips for fall Chinook in the Tri-cities this past week.  Fall Chinook counts at Bonneville Dam have declined to less than 10,000 adult chinook per day but harvest should continue to improve as more fish move into the Reach.