Oregon Willamette Sturgeon Season Opens Saturday; Columbia Shut
OutdoorHub 10.17.13
Anglers will have another chance to reel in and keep a sturgeon Saturday, Oct. 19 when sturgeon retention season opens for one day on the lower Willamette River.
Under rules adopted earlier this year, anglers are allowed to retain up to one white sturgeon with a fork length of 38-54 inches daily, with an annual bag limit of two fish.
The open area for this fishery includes the lower Willamette River from Willamette Falls downstream to its confluence with the Columbia River, plus Multnomah Channel and the lower Gilbert River from its mouth upstream a few hundred yards to the transient boat moorage facility.
ODFW staff intends to monitor harvest on the Willamette and may schedule additional Saturday openings on the lower Willamette, if possible within available harvest limits, according to John North, Columbia River fisheries manager.
Anglers are reminded that the Columbia River will remain closed to retention of white sturgeon, with the exception of that section of the river between The Dalles and John Day dams, which is currently open to retention of white sturgeon with fork lengths of 43 to 54 inches. All other reaches of the Columbia are closed to retention of white sturgeon but are open to catch-and-release fishing.
Single point barbless hooks are required for all sturgeon fishing.
