Brewester Pool Sockeye Closed This Year???

[Ridgeratt]

Under 500 fish across Bonneville yet. Numbers are still way off.

http://www.fpc.org/CurrentDaily/histfishtwo_7day-ytd_Adults.htm

[DOUBLELUNG]

As of yesterday, 63,000 sockeye over Bonneville, compared to 49,000 this date last year and 21 year average of 24,000.  Already well over half the total forecast run of 101,600 (vs. less than 10% of the 2015 run over BON by this date).  Either the run is REALLY early, or much larger than predicted.

[Mfowl]

So can someone clarify: the regs state that Sockeye may be retained in the lower river (below Bonneville) between June 16th - July 6th. Is this still true or is there an emergency closure still in effect for the lower river? I'm headed down to fish out of Rainier on Sunday, mainly for Chinook, just hoping for some clarity. Thanks.

[buddy01]

I hope your right!!

[Mfowl]

So can someone clarify: the regs state that Sockeye may be retained in the lower river (below Bonneville) between June 16th - July 6th. Is this still true or is there an emergency closure still in effect for the lower river? I'm headed down to fish out of Rainier on Sunday, mainly for Chinook, just hoping for some clarity. Thanks.

Found it, Sockeye are open for retention in the lower Columbia June 16 - July 31.

Summer Season* (June 16 –July 31 timeframe)

Summer Chinook and Sockeye
The area downstream of the Astoria-Megler Bridge is closed for salmon and steelhead during the June 16-July 31 period.
The area from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the OR/WA border (upstream of McNary Dam) is open June 16-July 31 for retention of: sockeye, adult hatchery Chinook, hatchery Chinook jacks, and hatchery steelhead. Closed for Coho.
The daily bag limit is two adult salmonids and five jacks. All sockeye are considered adults and must be recorded as adults on the combined angling tag.
All other permanent rules apply.

[Dhoey07]

As of yesterday, 63,000 sockeye over Bonneville, compared to 49,000 this date last year and 21 year average of 24,000.  Already well over half the total forecast run of 101,600 (vs. less than 10% of the 2015 run over BON by this date).  Either the run is REALLY early, or much larger than predicted.

That's the best news I've heard in a while 

[C-Money]

  There may be a season yet!! Looking forward to July 1st either way, king gear or sockeye gear, it will be fun.

[Ripper]

According to Tom Nelson from the Outdoor Line, there will be a good run and good fishing for Kings and sockeye in the Brewster pool.

[MtnMuley]

Tom Nelson apparently doesn't have a clue then, because there no sockeye fishery up here in the pool this year.  I'd imagine if it were to open, that'd it would be well into July.  Kings look very promising so far.

[270Shooter]

I know it's early yet but the numbers so far are very promising for sockeye. I don't see why they wouldn't open up the fishery if the return was much higher than expected.

[Ridgeratt]

FISHING -- Sockeye salmon are surging into the Columbia River in record numbers, and that has fisheries biologists scratching their heads. Their forecast for this year is less than a fifth of last year's return.

"Will this year’s actual return beat the preseason forecast?" ponders Joe Hymer, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife salmon specialist in Vancouver. "Will we set a new record?  Typical peak counts at Bonneville Dam are around July 1."

Through Monday, a total of 33,496 sockeye were counted at Bonneville Dam, the highest count through that date since at least 1938, Hymer said. The previous record was set last year with 24,728 fish by June 13.

The single-day counts at Bonneville Dam were: 8,764 sockeye on Monday; 6,660 on Sunday; 4,515 on Saturday; 3,411 on Friday; 2,112 on Thursday; and 1,648 on Wednesday.

Last year’s total return  of 512,500 fish was the third largest run since at least 1938. The record is 648,361 fish in 2014.

The recent 10 year average through June 13 is 10,728 fish.

This year's pre-season forecast of just 101,600 sockeye to return to the mouth of the Columbia is below the recent 10-year average of 290,200 sockeye. That's not sensational, but the early returns are.  So what's the deal?

No one knows for sure.

"Stay tuned," Hymer suggests.

By the way, future sockeye returns to the Columbia are even more questionable.

While last year’s sockeye returned in near-record numbers, about 250,000 perished because of the unusually low flows and warm water temperatures cause by a state-wide drought and extremely hot summer.

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2016/jun/14/early-sockeye-salmon-surge-puzzles-fish-managers/

[buddy01]

Already up to 90,412 as of yesterday Keep on coming!!

[huntnnw]

almost 23K over Bonny yesterday

[Ripper]

112554 over Bonnie so far. Unless we have another big die off it should be a good season.

[grade-creek-rd]

Its been a cold and wet summer (after April of course...darn record heat in April!)...and it's a La Nina year...all things are adding up for a fishery!