Anglers reminded of Columbia River salmon fishery closures

State fishery managers are reminding anglers that the mainstem Columbia River – both above and below Priest Rapids Dam – is closed to fishing for salmon due to projected low returns of summer Chinook and sockeye salmon.

These closures are reflected in the 2019-20 Washington Sport Fishing Rule pamphlet, which is available online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.

Areas of the Columbia River above Priest Rapids Dam typically open for salmon fishing around July 1, but those areas will remain closed to protect the lower number of summer Chinook and sockeye expected to return this year.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife issued an emergency rule change (https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=2341) earlier this month to close salmon fisheries below Priest Rapids Dam.

The department initially announced these closures in April in a news release: https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/washingtons-salmon-fisheries-set-2019-20.