Monday, February 10, 2025

Steelhead returns meet threshold to open season

Steelhead fisherman cast from the dock at Lakeshore Park in Pateros.
Steelhead fisherman cast from the dock at Lakeshore Park in Pateros.
COURTESY OF PATEROS.COM
Posted

PATEROS – Following nearly a decade of closed seasons, steelhead fishing has returned to the Upper Columbia River effective Oct. 16 for a period yet to be determined by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

After nine years of failing to meet the minimum quota of adult fish clearing Priest Rapids Dam near Richland, the passage numbers as of Oct. 23 reached 9,336 adult steelhead of the 9,550 required, with more expected.

The Columbia River from the Beebe Bridge north to the Highway 173 Bridge Street Bridge in Brewster and the Methow River from its mouth to county road 1535 Burma Road Bridge are attracting sport fishermen in boats, on riverbanks, and from city docks.

Mike Mauk, owner of the Brewster Bait and Tackle Shop, said Pateros angler Isidro Pamatz weighed in the first steelhead at his store on opening day and received a $25 gift certificate.

“The best part of it for me is there are a lot of wilds coming back,” said Lance Rider, owner of the Outdoorsman in Winthrop. “It’s close to fifty percent is what I’ve heard,”

Fishermen are cautioned to check regulations that, among other restrictions, specify:

  • Daily limit of two hatchery steelhead or two coho, or one of each. 
  • Minimum sizes: Steelhead 20 inches, coho 12 inches.
  • Retention of hatchery steelhead is mandatory. Steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be released immediately, unharmed, and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.

The WDFW management goal is to cull the hatchery fish identified by a clipped adipose fin.

“If there are quite a few wilds compared to not many wilds, that means we can fish for the hatchery fish longer without so much mortality and wiping out a run,” said Rider. “I was wondering if we would ever get to do it again, and now we are.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media

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