Action: Modifies or closes fisheries for sockeye salmon in the Columbia River.
Species affected: All species.
Columbia River locations, dates, and rules:
From the Megler-Astoria Bridge to Bonneville Dam; except the mainstem area adjacent to Tanner Creek on the Oregon shore:
- Immediately – June 26:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
- June 27 – July 5:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to two adults including no more than one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than sockeye and hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit has been retained.
- July 6 – 31:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
From a line between markers located on the Oregon shore 450 feet downstream and 150 feet upstream of the Tanner Creek mouth out to the center of Columbia River:
- Immediately – July 15:
- All species: Closed waters.
- July 16 – 31:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
From Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam:
- Immediately – June 26:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
- June 27 – July 5:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to two adults including no more than one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than sockeye and hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit has been retained.
- July 6 – 31:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
From The Dalles Dam upstream to a line starting at a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approximately 1300 feet upstream of The Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected easterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington south shore located approximately 200 feet above the fish ladder exit:
- Immediately – July 31:
- Closed to fishing for and retention of salmon and steelhead.
From a line starting at a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approximately 1300 feet upstream of The Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected easterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington south shore located approximately 200 feet above the fish ladder exit upstream to Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco.
- Immediately – June 26:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
- June 27 – July 5:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to two adults including no more than one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than sockeye and hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the adult portion of the daily limit has been retained.
- July 6 – 31:
- Salmon and steelhead: Daily limit six. Up to one steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery jack Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches. Release wild steelhead. Anglers may not continue to fish for salmon after the steelhead portion of the daily limit has been retained.
From Columbia Point (1/3 mile downstream of I-182 Bridge at Richland) to I-182 Bridge at Richland:
- Immediately – June 19: Salmon:
- Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit four sockeye. Release all salmon other than sockeye.
- Anglers can use two poles when fishing for salmon with the Two-Pole Endorsement.
- Night closure in effect for salmon.
- Open only to bank fishing with hand-casted lines from shore on the west (Richland) side of the river. Closed to angling for salmon from a vessel and to fishing from shore on the east (Pasco) side of the river.
- June 20 – July 31:
- Closed to fishing for and retention of all salmon.
From Interstate-182 Bridge at Richland upstream to 650 feet below Priest Rapids Dam:
- Immediately – June 19: Salmon:
- Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit four sockeye. Release all salmon other than sockeye.
- Anglers can use two poles when fishing for salmon with the Two-Pole Endorsement.
- Night closure in effect for salmon.
- June 20 – July 31:
- Closed to fishing for and retention of all salmon.
From Priest Rapids Dam upstream to Chief Joseph Dam:
- July 1 – August 31:
- Closed to fishing for and retention of all salmon.
Reason for action: The adult sockeye salmon passage at Bonneville Dam is tracking well below expectations relative to the pre-season forecast of 275,000 fish returning to the Columbia River mouth. At the current passage rate over Bonneville Dam, there is insufficient harvest allocation to prosecute recreational fisheries throughout much of the Columbia River.
Additional information: Fishery managers will continue monitoring sockeye passage at Bonneville Dam and expect greater certainty in the overall run size after the recent 10-year average 50% passage date of June 27. If the return improves, select areas upstream of the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco may open for retention in July. The Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery may also open if adult passage at Tumwater Dam sufficiently exceeds the spawner escapement target of 23,000. Learn more about changes to Columbia River sockeye fisheries in the news release on the WDFW website.
All year-round closure areas listed in the Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet and other permanent rules apply.
Fishery managers encourage anglers to sign up for Fishing Rule Change email notifications and to check for emergency rules on the WDFW website before fishing. Refer to the 2025–2026 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for current regulations. Download the Fish Washington® mobile app to stay up to date on the go.
Information contact: WDFW Fish Program, 360-902-2700, fishpgm@dfw.wa.gov.