Hanford Reach Fishing Report (7-11-22)

THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORT WAS FORWARDED BY PAUL HOFFARTH

Sockeye counts at Bonneville peaked in late June and have exceeded 500,000 to date.  Sockeye counts at Bonneville have dropped below 10,000 per day and summer chinook daily counts are just over 1,000. Sockeye counts at McNary Dam continue to exceed 10,000 per day but fishing has slowed over the past weekend, likely a combination of decreasing numbers and increasing water temperatures. This could be the final “good” week of fishing for the summer fishery.

WHILE SALMON FISHING IS BEGINNING TO TAIL OFF IN THE HANFORD REACH, STELLAR ACTION WAS REPORTED UPSTREAM BELOW WANAPUM DAM, WHICH IS WHERE THIS CREW ENJOYED GOOD ACTION ON SOCKEYE AND SUMMER CHINOOK A COUPLE SEASONS AGO. (JAROD HIGGINBOTHAM)

River flows in the Columbia River (Priest Rapids) remain high, ~200,000cfs. Water temperatures remain relatively cool, ~60F at Priest Rapids Dam.

Fishing was good this past week but harvest declined compared to the week prior.  WDFW staff interviewed 562 anglers from 240 boats and 466 bank anglers.  Both boat and bank anglers averaged ~8 angler hours per fish. For the week, 2,298 sockeye and 63 hatchery adult chinook were harvested.

Based on the data collected there have been 10,889 angler trips for salmon (summer fishery) in the Hanford Reach fishery to date with 7,015 sockeye, 166 hatchery adult chinook, and 9 jack chinook harvested. 45 wild adult chinook have been caught and released.

July 15 will be the final day to fish the bank area at Columbia Point downstream of the Interstate 182 bridge. Anglers, bank and boat, can continue to fish after July 15 upstream of the Interstate bridge.