OLYMPIA – The fishing season for fall Chinook salmon opens on August 18 and runs until October 31.
Rules vary depending on fishing location:
A) Snake River from the mouth (Burbank to Pasco railroad bridge at Snake River mile 1.25) to Lower Granite dam:
Salmon: Open 7 days/week. Daily limit 3 adult hatchery Chinook, no daily limit for jack Chinook (clipped or unclipped), release all other salmon. Min. size 12”. Barbless hooks are required.
B) Snake River from the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore, approximately 3 miles below Clarkston) upstream to the Oregon state line:
Salmon: Open 7 days/week. Daily limit 3 adult Chinook (clipped or unclipped), no daily limit for jack Chinook (clipped or unclipped), release all other salmon. Min. size 12”. Barbless hooks are required.
Reason for action: The 2022 Columbia River forecasted return of upriver bright adults is 230,400, with a significant portion of these fish expected to return to the Snake River.
Additional information: WDFW requires that all Washington licensed anglers to cease fishing for Chinook once they have retained their adult daily limit. Adult Chinook is 24 inches in length or larger and jack Chinook is less than 24 inches in length. Two-pole permits are not allowed during this fishery.
When fishing in the Snake River between Washington and Idaho:
The holder of a valid Washington fishing license may fish the Snake River where it forms the boundary between the states of Washington and Idaho, subject to the fish and game laws of Washington but may not fish from the shore including wading, and may not fish sloughs or tributaries on the Idaho side. An Idaho license holder has the same rights and restrictions with reference to the Washington side.
Any angler who fishes on the Snake River or any other water forming a Washington boundary is entitled to have in possession only the limit allowed by one license regardless of the number of licenses in possession.
Anglers should be sure to identify their catch because returning coho salmon and steelhead are also in the Snake River during this fishery. All salmonids (salmon or steelhead) that are not kept as part of the daily limit cannot be removed from the water and must be immediately released unharmed. Anglers should continue to check emergency regulations for new and changing seasons or sign up for email notifications of any rule change at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists. In addition, anglers are reminded to refer to the 2022/23 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for other rules and regulations.
Information contact: Jeremy Trump, District 3 Fish Biologist, 509-382-1005
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