Chinook Retention To Open On Portion Of Upper Columbia

THE FOLLOWING IS A FISHING RULE CHANGE NOTICE FROM THE WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

Hanford Reach and Upper Columbia River salmon fishery updates

Action: Opens Chinook retention opportunities from Rocky Reach Dam to Wells Dam.  

Species affected: Chinook salmon.

Effective date: July 14–Aug. 31, 2025.

Specific Locations, dates, and daily limits:

The I-182 Bridge at Richland to the boundary markers 650 feet below the fish ladder at Priest Rapids Dam:

• July 14–July 15:
  • Closed to salmon fishing.
• July 16–July 31:
  • Open Wednesdays–Saturdays. Closed Sundays–Tuesdays.
  • Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit two sockeye. Release all other salmon.

Priest Rapids Dam to Rocky Reach Dam:

• July 14–July 15:
  • Closed to salmon fishing.
• July 16–Aug. 31:
  • Open Wednesdays–Saturdays. Closed Sundays–Tuesdays.
  • Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit two sockeye. Release all other salmon.

Rocky Reach Dam to Wells Dam:

• July 14–July 15:
  • Closed to salmon fishing.
• July 16–Aug. 31:
  • Open Wednesdays–Saturdays. Closed Sundays–Tuesdays.
  • Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit four, including no more than one adult hatchery Chinook and no more than two sockeye. Release coho and wild adult Chinook.

Wells Dam to Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster:

• July 14–July 15:
  • Closed to salmon fishing.
• July 16–Aug. 31:
  • Open Wednesdays–Saturdays. Closed Sundays–Tuesdays.
  • Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit two sockeye. Release all other salmon.

Highway 173 Bridge at Brewster to the Corps of Engineers safety marker on the Douglas County shore, to the rock jetty at the upstream shoreline of Foster Creek:

• July 14–Aug. 31:
  • Open Wednesdays–Saturdays. Closed Sundays–Tuesdays.
  • Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit two sockeye. Release all other salmon.

Reason for action: On July 7, 2025, the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) upgraded the Columbia River summer Chinook run size to 43,200. At this run size, sufficient numbers of summer Chinook are available for recreational harvest. The number of summer Chinook available for harvest is subject to change based on future upgrades or downgrades to the run size made by TAC.   

Additional information: This fishery will be monitored closely and could potentially close at any time if harvest targets are achieved.

Anglers are reminded they may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit has been retained.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation will use purse seines at the confluence of the Okanogan River to collect Chinook for hatchery broodstock and sockeye ceremonial and subsistence purposes. Anglers are asked to be respectful and give tribal staff space while conducting this activity. The Chief Joseph Hatchery releases millions of Chinook that contribute to recreational fisheries in the Columbia River.