Lower Columbia’s Big Creek Opening 2 Weeks Early For Hatchery Salmon

THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OREGON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Big Creek (lower Columbia River tributary east of Astoria) will open to fishing more than two weeks early to allow anglers to access an expected large hatchery coho salmon run and surplus hatchery Chinook salmon.

Big Creek is typically open from the mouth (including the railroad trestle near the mouth) to the hatchery deadline Oct. 16-Dec. 31 for hatchery Chinook, hatchery steelhead and hatchery coho.

Under temporary rules adopted by ODFW for 2021, it will be open for from Oct. 1 through the end of the year.

“The large hatchery coho run has been a bright spot for fishing this year, and as we’ve already met our hatchery Chinook broodstock needs, we want to give anglers a two-week head start on fall fishing,” said Robert Bradley.

For the latest on NW Zone fishing regulations, see the Recreation Report https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishing-report/northwest-zone