Two Days Of Sturgeon Fishing In Bonneville Pool

Bonneville Pool will open two days to white sturgeon retention

Action: The summer-season recreational fishery in Bonneville Reservoir opens to white sturgeon retention for two days in June.

Effective dates: Saturday June 18 and Friday July 1, 2016

Species affected: White sturgeon between 38-inches and 54-inches fork length

Location: The Columbia River and adjacent tributaries from Bonneville Dam upstream to the sturgeon spawning sanctuary boundary located 1.8 miles downstream of The Dalles Dam, from the east (upstream) dock at the Port of The Dalles boat ramp straight across to a boundary marker on the Washington shore.

Reason for action: Establishes a summer white sturgeon retention period in Bonneville Reservoir. Around 168 fish remain available for harvest from the 325 fish total guideline. This balance allows for a summer retention season. This decision was made April 7, 2016 at a joint Washington-Oregon public hearing.

Other information: The annual harvest guideline for Bonneville Pool was reduced from 1,100 fish to 325 fish in response to a decline in the population of legal-size sturgeon. All other permanent regulations remain in effect. Catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon is allowed, except the spawning sanctuary is closed to all sturgeon angling during May through July. The Columbia River and adjacent tributaries between The Dalles and McNary dams remain open to sturgeon retention until respective harvest guidelines for each reservoir are reached. The spawning sanctuaries from the Highway 395/I-82 Bridge upstream to McNary Dam and from the Rufus grain elevator upstream to John Day Dam close to all sturgeon fishing May 1 through July 31.

Information contact: Dennis Gilliland, (360) 906-6733.