Columbia River Fish Counts 2022

[Evan B]

So specifically what tule runs are they trying to protect. I thought most, if not all, of the lower CR hatchery fall chinook stocks were tule origin fish? Never has seemed like there was shortage of "fragrant" nookies this time of year.

The issue is they severely missed their preseason forecast and they have no way to update once it's set. So a situation like this year, when the runs of tules far, far exceed their forecast, we absolutely smoked that quota in short order.

I think it's all the lower river tule stocks, which, like @Salmo_g has pointed out elsewhere, are all hatchery in origin at this point, even if they're spawning in the gravel. Those native/wild stocks are functionally extinct. So the ESA really needs to update their guidelines.

 

[Mtnsaremyhome]

If most of the fish turn left in the lower reaches, I don't quite understand why they don't open it up from say I5-Bonnie?

 

[JS]

If they don't re open this weekend I may brave the shit show above Bonnie just to fish

Time to wade out into the fray, lol. I’m glad I’m as far upriver as I am sometimes. That said, as soon as my early archery season is over, we’ll be downriver too.

On the upside, the fishing should be stupid good!

 

[Evan B]

If most of the fish turn left in the lower reaches, I don't quite understand why they don't open it up from say I5-Bonnie?

There's quite a few tules that go all the way to the Bonneville hatchery. I think that hatchery is the main indicator they use to count returns for them. Or it's at least one of them.

Though I've never once caught a single tule in the stretches I fish between I-5 and Bonnie. And I've caught a LOT in there. Most look like this:

 

[Mtnsaremyhome]

Ah, fair enough

 

[Evan B]

Ah, fair enough

Have you caught any tules in our spots? I can't ever recall any.

 

[Mtnsaremyhome]

Nope, none personally. Occasionally these show up as well, but man they are fickle and most days they just jump around and give you the middle fin.

 

[Evan B]

Nope, none personally. Occasionally these show up as well, but man they are fickle and most days they just jump around and give you the middle fin.

View attachment 31085

Was it you who was with me last year when that one rolled in front of me and I just did the figure 8 with like 3' of line out in front of me and it ate and shot straight up in the air and shook the hook out? That was one of my favorite eats ever.

 

[Mtnsaremyhome]

Was it you who was with me last year when that one rolled in front of me and I just did the figure 8 with like 3' of line out in front of me and it ate and shot straight up in the air and shook the hook out? That was one of my favorite eats ever.

Oh yeah that was a hoot! your rod doubled over before it shot out like a rocket at your face, I had one bump into my leg about the same time, must have been a school

 

[Mtnsaremyhome]

 

[Evan B]

View attachment 31157

heard the same thing.

FML

 

[Stonedfish]

Hopefully they don't talk to or take input from the same guys that got MA 13 closed.....
SF

 

[SilverFly]

There's quite a few tules that go all the way to the Bonneville hatchery. I think that hatchery is the main indicator they use to count returns for them. Or it's at least one of them.

Though I've never once caught a single tule in the stretches I fish between I-5 and Bonnie. And I've caught a LOT in there. Most look like this:
View attachment 31083

I've caught some that look like in one of the more upstream tribs below bonnie with a supposedly tule run. Either that or they're URB strays. I tend to lean towards the latter having also caught uber-fragrant slimers in that crick.

 

[klq@stl]

September 20:
Bonneville=462536
The Dalles=224412

238,124 are in "the pool", tributaries/nets/or coolers.

94,000 Coho

 

[klq@stl]

Need about 12,000 more Fall Chinook over Bonneville to reach half a million. Numbers are tapering off.
Betting Line: Over or Under

 

[Capt Insano Emeritis]

I miss fishing the Kalama I just chuck a 9 wt in small water and got really sick of the zoo and the spotter/snaggers in fly only stretches using depth charged lines. Miss hooking the fish but burned out on the company. And potential rock throwing

 

[Evan B]

Got the good news yesterday that my weekend is going to be a good one Glad they're reopening my section, but it's a bummer it was closed for the peak of the run.

 

[Snopro]

Need about 12,000 more Chinook over Bonneville to reach half a million. Numbers are tapering off.
Betting Line: Over or Under

Over or Under?????

We're already over, 736828 for the year. If you're talking "Fall" chinook specifically, I'll pick over for those dudes too.

Decent year for salmonids passing Bonneville. Quick estimate looks like over 1.6 million to date.

 

[Snopro]

Got the good news yesterday that my weekend is going to be a good one Glad they're reopening my section, but it's a bummer it was closed for the peak of the run.

Thanks for giving them a free pass over the wall. It's been fun. I hope your patience is rewarded with some giant second run coho.

 

[klq@stl]

Chinook salmon fishing on Columbia River to close after Friday

Oregon and Washington ordered an end to all non-treaty chinook harvests starting at 11:59 p.m. Friday.

www.oregonlive.com