Tri-City Herald Logo

Hanford Reach steelhead season opens | Tri-City Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Archives
    • Buy Photos and Pages
    • Contact Us
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Services

    • News
    • Local News
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Hanford
    • Northwest
    • Nation & World
    • Obituary Listings
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • Health
    • Weird
    • Photos
    • Weather
    • Videos
    • Sports
    • Local Sports
    • Preps
    • Prep Countdown
    • Seattle Seahawks
    • Seattle Mariners
    • Tri-City Americans
    • Tri-City Dust Devils
    • Tri-Cities Fever
    • Hydros
    • Photos
    • Outdoors
    • Blogs
    • College
    • NFL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NHL
    • MLS
    • Golf
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Public Records
    • National Business
    • Technology
    • Entertainment
    • Local Arts
    • Celebrity
    • Mr. Movie
    • Movie Times
    • Movie News
    • Music News
    • Calendar
    • Submit Event
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Contests
    • Living
    • Food & Wine
    • Wine Press NW
    • Antique Appraisals
    • Health & Science
    • Home & Garden
    • Light Notes
    • Religion
    • Spiritual Life
    • Births
    • Engagements
    • Weddings
    • Anniversaries
    • Opinion
    • Letters
    • Editorials
    • National
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Submit Letter
    • Guest Columnists
  • Obituaries

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad

  • About Us
  • Mobile & Apps

Outdoors

Hanford Reach steelhead season opens

By the Herald staff

    ORDER REPRINT →

September 26, 2009 12:00 AM

A bountiful summer steelhead run prompted the state Department of Fish and Wildlife to open the season early for hatchery-raised steelhead through the Hanford Reach, and allow anglers to keep up to three fish daily.

More than 30,000 summer steelhead had been counted at Priest Rapids Dam through mid-September, compared to the 10-year average of 12,500, said Paul Hoffarth, district fish biologist.

He said the total returns to the Columbia River could break the 630,200-fish record set in 2001.

The department opened fishing for hatchery-reared steelhead on Tuesday. Anglers also are being allowed to retain up to three hatchery-reared summer steelhead per day between the blue bridge in Pasco and Priest Rapids Dam.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Tri-City Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

That area includes the upper portion of the Reach, stretching from the wooden powerline towers at the old Hanford townsite to Priest Rapids Dam, which hasn't been open to steelhead fishing since 1996.

The department also planned to open early the lower portion of the Reach -- from the wooden powerline towers downriver to the blue bridge in Pasco -- to allow anglers to catch more hatchery fish, said John Easterbrooks, regional fish manager for south central Washington.

Only hatchery fish measuring at least 20 inches that are marked for identification with a clipped adipose fin and a healed scar can be retained. All wild steelhead must be released unharmed, and may not be removed from the water.

Easterbrooks said the high number of returning summer steelhead has made it possible to expand fishing opportunities throughout the Hanford Reach.

"This is a great opportunity for anglers to catch some terrific fish under ideal early fall weather conditions, while also helping to prevent hatchery steelhead from crowding out wild fish on the spawning grounds," Easterbrooks said in a statement.

The hatchery steelhead fishery in the upper Reach is scheduled to run through Oct. 22, concurrent with salmon fishing for fall chinook and coho. In the lower section of the Reach, the steelhead fishery will continue through Oct. 31 from the blue bridge to the wooden powerline towers at the old Hanford townsite.

Because both wild and hatchery-reared summer steelhead in the Hanford Reach are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act, fish and wildlife was required to obtain a permit from the National Marine Fishery Service before opening the fishery. "Under the ESA, using a selective fishery to remove excess hatchery fish is a recognized strategy in conserving wild stocks," Easterbrooks said.

He said he doesn't think the steelhead run will break the record of 2001, but could wind up between 575,000 and 580,000 steelhead.

  Comments  

Videos

‘Pretty epic:’ The exhilaration of bombing down ski runs in 500 inches of total snowfall

Colorado man recounts killing mountain lion with his bare hands

View More Video

Trending Stories

Update: Snow and ice possible in Tri-Cities this week. Travelers may want to stay home

February 18, 2019 05:35 PM

Richland stabbing leaves teen in serious condition

February 19, 2019 08:54 AM

Brother attacks brother coming to Richland mom’s rescue

February 18, 2019 12:41 PM

All Tri-Cities Payless shoe stores now closing

February 18, 2019 12:29 PM

Chiawana overcomes weather, not enough hotel rooms to win 1st state wrestling titles

February 18, 2019 03:50 PM

Read Next

400 miles away, he braved stinging rain and roaring waves for a hot, crispy fish

Outdoors

400 miles away, he braved stinging rain and roaring waves for a hot, crispy fish

By Dennis Dauble Special to the Herald

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 18, 2019 11:39 AM

In his youth, Dennis Dauble fished for surfperch on the Oregon coast near the Yachats River. A trick with spark plugs, mussel bait and a little determination brought home Pacific Ocean treats.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Tri-City Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE OUTDOORS

Coho salmon could be big this year on the Columbia. That’s the good news

Outdoors

Coho salmon could be big this year on the Columbia. That’s the good news

February 18, 2019 11:26 AM
As runs dwindle, experts say Idaho’s salmon, steelhead ‘could be gone in a generation’

Homepage

As runs dwindle, experts say Idaho’s salmon, steelhead ‘could be gone in a generation’

February 15, 2019 12:00 AM

Outdoors

Wina Sturgeon: Hit the slopes for a workout you won’t find at the gym

February 14, 2019 12:00 AM

Outdoors

Fat tire bikes may look silly, but they’re fun to ride in winter and summer months

February 14, 2019 12:00 AM

Outdoors

With 90 percent of avalanches triggered by the victims, should meditation, mindfulness become backcountry tools?

February 14, 2019 12:00 AM

Outdoors

Freeskier balances a busy life with training

February 14, 2019 12:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Tri-City Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
Advertising
  • Digital Solutions
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Contact Us
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story