Gillnetters get opening

The Columbia River Compact agencies of Oregon and Washington on Monday set a four-hour opening later that day for commercial non-Indian fishing.

Local commercial fishermen Kent Martin, Brian Stanley, Martin Kuller, Jon McKinley, Terry Ostling and Randy Evans testified via teleconference before the Compact, which reviewed test-fishing results and took testimony from sports and non-Indian commercial fishing interests before setting the opening.

Stanley, Kuller and McKinley met at Martin’s home to testify in support of the proposed four-hour opening.

Evans requested a six hour opening and told the Compact, “I have bills to pay; I have taxes. I’m not doing this for fun.”

Test fishery results from the weekend indicated an increased number of chinook and a substantial reduction of wild steelhead in the river. This allows fishermen to take salmon without impact on the wild steelhead.