Spring Chinook Fishery Opens on Powder River

By Zureks (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

(LA GRANDE, Ore.) — A unique spring Chinook fishery will open on the Powder River next Tuesday when the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to release approximately 200 spring Chinook salmon into the river.

The release is tentatively planned for May 19 and will take place immediately below Mason Dam. The actual release date will depend on when and how many fish can be trapped at Hells Canyon Dam. The Powder River from Hughes Lane Bridge near Baker City to Mason Dam will open to spring Chinook from May 19 to Sept. 1. The daily bag limit has been increased from past years to four spring Chinook per day.

The fish being released in the Powder River are part of an anticipated strong return to the Hells Canyon Dam on the Snake River. When more fish return to the dam than are needed for brookstock, excess fish can be transported to tributaries to provide additional fishing needs.

Interested anglers should contact the ODFW Northeast Region Office at (541) 963-2138 to confirm fish release dates.

Source: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

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