I can't freakin' believe it! From Rocky Point Tongue to the Hiway 395 Bridge in Pasco, they're giving us back our springer season! Steelhead are open too. I'm going salmon fishing this weekend!! The text of the rule change is as follows:

June 2, 2005

Columbia River hatchery spring chinook fishery reopens; summer chinook fishery will be selective

Action: Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco will reopen to hatchery spring chinook fishing beginning Saturday, June 4. Also, beginning June 16, the previously scheduled summer chinook fishery in the same area will be required to release wild fish.

Effective date: Spring chinook fishery reopens 12:01 a.m. June 4 through June 15. Summer chinook fishery continues June 16, and all wild chinook must continue to be released.

Species affected: Chinook and steelhead.

Location: Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco.

Reason for action: The upriver spring chinook run size is predicted to be 95,000 providing for additional opportunity for spring chinook fishing in the mainstem Columbia under the current ESA guideline. Summer chinook fishing in the same area will begin as a selective (adipose clipped fish only) fishery to have concurrent rules with the state of Oregon.

Other information: Salmon: Chinook with adipose fins intact must be immediately released. The summer chinook fishery that begins June 16 was originally scheduled to be a non-selective fishery. The salmon daily limit is 6 fish, no more than two adults and the minimum size is 12 inches. Trout: Fishing for hatchery steelhead in the area from the I-5 Bridge upstream to the Hwy. 395 Bridge in Pasco will also open on June 4. Trout (including hatchery steelhead) daily limit is 2 fish, minimum size of 12 inches. Wild steelhead must be released and wild cutthroat must also be released below Bonneville Dam.

Information contact: (360) 696-6211. For latest information press *1010.

Well, we hit it this morning but with no success. Had one salmon takedown, broke off a sturgeon, and caught a few shad, but nary a nookie to be had. Weather was rainy and windy and finally blew us off the water around 10:30.

But it was GREAT to be out fishing for springers!!!