McNary Dam Fishing Report (12-7-20)

THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORT WAS FORWARDED BY PAUL HOFFARTH, WDFW

McNary to Hwy 395 Steelhead Fishery Update

The Columbia River from McNary Dam upstream to the Highway 395 bridge at Pasco/Kennewick opened for steelhead fishing on November 1. The daily limit is one hatchery steelhead. Night closure remains in effect. Barbless hooks are required when fishing for steelhead/salmon in the Columbia River downstream of the WA/OR border. From Hwy 730 at the WA/OR border upstream to the Hwy 395 bridge at Pasco, anglers can use barbed or barbless hooks for any species except sturgeon (sturgeon: single, barbless, hook & catch-and-release only). In addition anglers may fish with two poles with Two-Pole Endorsement for any species except sturgeon.

Anglers have been harvesting both A and B run steelhead in the McNary forebay. Roughly 25% of the catch has been hatchery steelhead. All wild steelhead must be immediately released.  WDFW estimates there were 2,210 angler trips in November (968 bank, 1,242 boat) with 71 A-run and 82 B-run steelhead harvested. 477 wild steelhead were caught and released (243 A-run and 220 B-run). Anglers averaged 11.5 hours of fishing per steelhead (hatchery + wild).

Columbia River salmon fishery update 

Action: Allows retention of hatchery steelhead from The Dalles Dam to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco.

Species affected: Salmon and steelhead.

Locations, dates, and rules:   

0.  From the mouth (Buoy 10 line) to the Hood River Bridge: salmon and steelhead: 
   0. Nov. 1-Dec. 31: Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery coho. Release wild steelhead. Salmon min. size 12”. 

1.  From the Hood River Bridge to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco: salmon and steelhead:
   0. Nov. 1-Dec. 31: Daily limit 6 salmon. Up to 2 adults may be retained, of which up to 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than Chinook and coho. Release wild steelhead. Salmon min. size 12”.

Reason for action: This action is being taken to allow retention of hatchery steelhead upstream of the Dalles Dam. Endangered Species Act impacts to A and B index steelhead are projected to be less than 0.1 percent, which is below the remaining available balance.