WASHINGTON – Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife opens spring Chinook salmon fishing on the Snake River for 4 days; below Little Goose Dam is open Tuesday, May 23 and Friday, May 26. below Ice Harbor Dam is open Wednesday, May 24 and Thursday, May 25, 2023.
Below Little Goose Dam: Snake River from Texas Rapids boat launch (situated on the south side of the river upstream of the mouth of Tucannon River) to the fishing constraint border listed below Little Goose Dam. This zone consists of both coasts and the rock and concrete location in between the juvenile bypass return pipeline and Little Goose Dam along the south coastline of the center (consists of the sidewalk location in your area referred to as “the Wall” in front of the juvenile collection center).
Below Ice Harbor Dam: Snake River from the South Bound Highway 12 Bridge near Pasco upstream about 7 miles to the fishing constraint border listed below Ice Harbor Dam.
Rules:
- Min. size 12″. Daily Limit 4 hatchery (adipose clipped) Chinook consisting of no greater than one grownup.
- Release all salmon aside from hatchery Chinook.
- Anglers need to stop fishing for salmon when the adult limitation has actually been maintained.
- Barbless hooks needed.
- Night Closure in result.
Reason for action
Increased fish passage at Bonneville Dam has actually provided certainty to supervisors that there are higher numbers of hatchery spring Chinook available to harvest and permit 4 days of fishing on the Snake River. WDFW Commission Policy C-3630 offers structure for Snake River Spring Chinook Fishery and the U.S. v. Oregon (2018-2027) Management Agreement offers Endangered Species Act protection for this fishery.
Additional info
Adult Chinook are 24 inches or longer. Adipose fin-clipped Chinook salmon that might be maintained need to have a recovered scar at the area of the missing out on fin. All Chinook salmon with the adipose fin undamaged, all bull trout, and steelhead should be right away launched unscathed.
Anglers cannot get rid of any Chinook salmon or steelhead from the water unless it is maintained as part of the day-to-day limitation.
WDFW will monitor this fishery and the returns of spring Chinook throughout the season and might close the fishery at any time due to harvest levels, ESA effects, in-season run changes, or any mix thereof. Please continue to inspect emergency situation guidelines if you are preparing to fish for spring Chinook in the Snake River.
Anglers are advised to describe the 2022-23 Washington Sport Fishing Rules handout for other policies, consisting of safety closures, CLOSED WATERS, and so on.
