Sturgeon Retention On John Day Pool To Close After Thursday’s Fishing

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

Thursday, March 14 will be the last day to retain sturgeon in the John Day Pool (mainstem Columbia River from John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam and adjacent tributaries). 

Fishery managers from Washington and Oregon made the decision today after determining that harvest guidelines in this reach will be met soon. The projected kept catch in John Day Pool through March 14 is 99 fish (94 percent of the guideline). 

Sturgeon anglers should also be aware that a retention season is not planned this year in the lower river below Bonneville Dam, as surveys found low numbers of legal-size fish (see Feb. 9 Joint Staff Report-Sturgeon Update).  

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing remains open in the mainstem, except all angling for sturgeon is prohibited May 1-Aug. 31 within sanctuary areas below each of the dam tailraces. See the permanent regulations for details, https://www.eregulations.com/oregon/fishing/columbia-river-zone