Please consult the 2006 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulation pamphlet for further information regarding the Columbia River Zone.

SALMON, STEELHEAD, and SHAD

The following regulations are now in effect for the mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam:

BUOY 10 LINE UPSTREAM TO THE I-5 BRIDGE: This section of the Columbia River is open seven days per week to the retention of adipose fin-clipped spring chinook, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad from January 1 through April 19, 2006 or until catch guidelines have been reached. The retention of chum and sockeye salmon is prohibited. The daily bag limit is two adipose fin-clipped adult chinook salmon or adipose fin-clipped steelhead plus five adipose fin-clipped chinook jacks. It is unlawful to angle for jack salmon after the adult bag limit has been reached.

I-5 BRIDGE UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM: This section of the Columbia River is open for adipose fin-clipped steelhead and shad through March 31, 2006 . The retention of chinook, chum, and sockeye salmon is prohibited.

BONNEVILLE DAM UPSTREAM TO THE OREGON/WASHINGTON BORDER ABOVE MCNARY DAM: This section of the Columbia River is currently open to the retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead and shad. Effective March 16 through April 30, 2006 the retention of adipose fin-clipped spring chinook is allowed from the Tower Island powerlines (located approximately 6 miles downstream of The Dalles Dam) upstream to McNary Dam plus the Oregon bank between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island .

Salmonid anger effort in the lower Columbia River is light but will continue to increase as spring chinook start to move upriver.

Bonneville Pool: Weekly checking showed one adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept for one boat.

The Dalles Pool: Weekly checking showed five adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus one adipose fin-clipped and eight unclipped steelhead released for six boats.

STURGEON

BUOY 10 UPSTREAM TO WAUNA POWERLINES: Effective January 1, 2006 this section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of sturgeon. The daily bag limit is one fish between 42 and 60 inches in length and the annual limit is five fish. The use of more than one single point barbless hook is prohibited.

The following modifications were adopted for the 2006 mainstem Columbia River sturgeon fishery from Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay and all adjacent Washington tributaries. The modifications include:

• Al low the retention of sturgeon seven days per week from Sunday January 1, 2006 through Sunday April 30, 2006 .
• Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days per week from Monday May 1, 2006 through Friday May 12, 2006 and Wednesday July 5, 2006 through Sunday December 31, 2006 .
• Al low the retention of sturgeon seven days per week from Saturday May 13, 2006 through Tuesday July 4, 2006 .
• Increase the minimum size limit from 42” to 45” during the Saturday May 13, 2006 through Tuesday July 4, 2006 retention season.
• Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during retention closures.
• Fishery will be managed for a catch guideline of 15,000 fish in this section of the Columbia River and specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the guideline.

WAUNA POWERLINES UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM: Effective January 1, 2006 this section of the Columbia River is open to the retention of sturgeon on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The daily bag limit is one fish between 42 and 60 inches in length and the annual limit is five fish. The use of more than one single point barbless hook is prohibited.

The following modifications were adopted for the 2006 mainstem Columbia River Sturgeon fishery from the Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, including all adjacent Washington tributaries and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls (including Multnomah Channel). The modifications include:

• Al low the retention of sturgeon three days per week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and prohibit the retention of sturgeon four days per week on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday beginning Sunday January 1, 2006 through Monday July 31, 2006 and Sunday October 1, 2006 through Sunday December 31, 2006 .
• Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days per week from Tuesday August 1, 2006 through Saturday September 30, 2006 .
• Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during sturgeon retention closures.
• Fishery will be managed for a catch guideline of 12,000 fish in this section of the Columbia River and specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the guideline.

BONNEVILLE DAM UPSTREAM TO THE DALLES DAM: Effective January 1, 2006 the Bonneville pool is open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week. The daily bag limit is one fish between 42 and 60 inches in length and the annual limit is five fish. The catch guideline for the Bonneville Pool will be announced in early 2006.

THE DALLES DAM UPSTREAM TO JOHN DAY DAM: Effective January 1, 2006 The Dalles pool is open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week. The daily bag limit is one fish between 48 and 60 inches in length and the annual limit is five fish. The catch guideline for The Dalles Pool will be announced in early 2006.

JOHN DAY DAM UPSTREAM TO MCNARY DAM: Effective January 1, 2006 the John Day pool is open to the retention of sturgeon seven days per week. The daily bag limit is one fish between 48 and 60 inches in length and the annual limit is five fish. The catch guideline for the John Day pool will be announced in early 2006.

In the lower Columbia River sturgeon angler effort continued to decline this past weekend. Boat anglers in the Portland to Longview areas averaged 0.06 legal white sturgeon caught per boat.

Gorge Bank: Weekend checking showed no catch reported for 14 bank rods (incomplete trips).

Portland to Longview Boats: Weekend checking showed one legal white sturgeon kept, plus 26 sub-legal sturgeon released for 18 boats (incomplete trips).

Portland to Longview Bank: Weekly checking showed six sub-legal sturgeon released for nine bank rods (incomplete trips).

Bonneville Pool: Weekly checking showed two legal white sturgeon kept, plus one legal and 41 sub-legal sturgeon released for 11 boats and 15 sub-legal sturgeon released for 40 bank rods.

The Dalles Pool: Weekly checking showed one legal white sturgeon kept, plus 15 sub-legal sturgeon released for four boats and one sub-legal sturgeon released for 20 bank rods.

WALLEYE

Bonneville Pool: Weekly checking showed one walleye kept, plus one walleye released for one boat.