Fish & Feathers Summer Chinook open above the Astoria Bridge

Published 8:00 pm Tuesday, June 23, 2015

The season for adult summer Chinook and sockeye salmon opened on June 16 and will run through July 6 above the Astoria Bridge, on the lower Columbia River and, through July 31, above Bonneville Dam. A strong run of 73,000 summer Chinook and 394,000 sockeye is predicted this year. The summer Chinook, also known as “June hogs” can run up to 40-plus pounds.

During the summer fishery, anglers can take a total of six salmonids, including two adult hatchery Chinook or two adult hatchery steelhead, or one of each. Barbless hooks are required. Anglers can also retain any sockeye salmon, which count toward the daily adult limit for adult fish, and shad, which don’t.

If you are planning on fishing off the North Jetty, remember that only a portion of the jetty is open to fishing during constriction, from Waikiki Beach west for only a short distance. I have heard of some salmon caught off the jetty this past week.

The weather we are having is absolutely perfect for fishing the lower river. Just remember the wind usually picks up in the afternoon and can make for a choppy ride home in the afternoon.

This time of the year on the Peninsula, there are numerous sightings of fawns, baby coyotes and bear cubs. Be especially careful around mama bears and cubs; even black bears can become very aggressive if they think a human to be threatening to their cubs. Give them a wide berth at all times. Coyotes are out searching for food for their pups, and small dogs and cats are an easy meal, so keep your pets under control.

If you are heading to the eastside to fish or whatever, be aware of the fire danger. Open fires are not permitted. There are many eastern lakes that offer great fishing this time of year. With the water warming, bass are on the rise and eager to feed. Many forest areas are burning and many trails and roads are closed to passage, so make your plans accordingly.

This past week, sea conditions have kept most small boats at the docks. The bar was closed to boats under 30 feet, and then 26 feet. Charter boats have been able to get out a few days and found some salmon, but no real concentrations.

Crabbing is still closed to the South Jetty of the Columbia, but you can take crab south of it. But the rumor is that the ocean north of the jetty will be closed most of the summer.

Ron Malast can be reached at 360-665-3573 or raiders7777@centurylink.net