Hanford Reach Fishing Report (9-5-22)

THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORT WAS FORWARDED BY PAUL HOFFARTH, WDFW

Fall chinook returns to the Columbia River are running 24% above the ten-year average. Cumulative adult fall chinook count through the Bonneville Dam fish ladders is 189,630 (Aug 1-Sept 4) compared to the ten-year average of 152,234. 30,020 adult fall chinook have been counted at McNary for the same time period, 6% below the ten-year average (30,020 v 31,821).

Fishing was slow this past week but is picking up throughout the Hanford Reach. WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 155 boats (311 anglers) with 40 adult chinook, 4 jacks, and 1 coho harvested. Based on sampling, an estimated 140 adult chinook, 14 chinook jacks, and 4 coho were harvested from 1,089 angler trips.

For the first three weeks of the fishery there have been 2,843 angler trips with 672 adult chinook, 49 chinook jacks, and 4 coho harvested. In addition, 17 sockeye, 14 adult chinook, 7 chinook jacks, and 47 steelhead were caught and released. Boats averaged one salmon per 3.5 boats, 34 hours per fish.