Fishing enthusiasts along the Pacific Northwest can mark their calendars, as fishery managers from both Washington and Oregon have given the green light to the 2025 Columbia River recreational spring Chinook salmon season. In an announcement made yesterday, the forthcoming season shapes up to offer some notable opportunities for salmon fishing, despite a forecast that suggests runs will be somewhat underwhelming in comparison to the past decade's average, as reported by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) .

This year's anticipated return of upriver spring Chinook to the Columbia River stands at 122,500 fish. This number surpasses last year's return but still fails to meet the 139,676 fish average of the last ten years. According to Ryan Lothrop, WDFW's Columbia River fisheries manager, "With an upriver run size similar to recent years, we're able to provide some quality mainstem fishing opportunities." However, he emphasized the importance of conservation, stating, "We also have an obligation to protect upriver stocks listed under the Endangered Species Act, which requires careful management to ensure the long-term stability of these fisheries," as noted by WDFW.

Several areas of the river will be open for fishing with specific guidelines laid out for anglarians. Until March 31, salmon and steelhead fishing are open daily from the river's mouth up to the Interstate 5 bridge. However, it's expected that spring Chinook won't turn up in large numbers until late March or April. Key dates and locations for the 2025 season include March 1 through April 6 for the Buoy 10 lineup to Beacon Rock, and April 1-26 for the stretch from Tower Island power lines to the Washington/Oregon border.

Projections have recreational anglers earmarked to harvest approximately 5,200 adult Chinook below Bonneville Dam, and another 550 from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Washington/Oregon border. "Fortunately, we are able to provide a quality April weekend fishing opportunity downstream of Bonneville Dam this year," said Lothrop. He also alluded to prior challenges, saying, “Upstream of Bonneville Dam, increasing catch rates in recent years have led to early closures, resulting in fewer open fishing days before this year’s in-season run size update. However, if the run size update is large enough or if there’s remaining catch allocation, additional fishing time is likely.” Still, pending updates and surplus allocations could extend fishing times, as per the WDFW.

Monitoring will proceed as the season unfolds, to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries in line with dam counts and hatchery returns, with the U.S. v. Oregon Technical Advisory Committee slated to furnish a run size update by mid-May. For those fishing the Deep River, rules and limits will align with the mainstem Columbia River's regulations during spring Chinook season. Furthermore, anglers could also see opportunities for Chinook harvests within the Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers based on preseason forecasts.

Before heading out, WDFW advises anglers to review the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet or utilize the Fish Washington® mobile app for all permanent regulations applicable to intended fishing waters, alongside checking for any emergency rule changes. To stay informed about regulation updates and Columbia River Compact fishery notices via email, the public is encouraged to subscribe to WDFW’s mailing lists.