Yakima River

[bighunter]

Has anybody been fishing the yakima river for springers?

[klickman]

still a little early.  Had a buddy fish it Sunday.  No bites no fish seen.  The Wind river gorge is on fire. 

[KwackWacker]

not yet...it's gonna close may 15th now because of the lack of fish

[Jburke]

not yet...it's gonna close may 15th now because of the lack of fish

Where did you see that?  It's not in the rule changes yet.  Personally don't care either way as I don't fish the Yakima, but just curious.

[boneaddict]

They'll list it on their website.  You pretty much have to monitor it when fishing for slamon anywhere.  Closures occur daily and the rule book doesn't cut it.

[jackelope]

Two sections of Yakima River to open for spring chinook fishing on May 1

Action: Open two sections of the Yakima River to fishing for hatchery spring chinook salmon.

Species affected: Hatchery chinook salmon

Locations & Dates:

Area 1: from the Interstate 182 bridge in Richland (river mile 4.5) to 400 feet downstream of Horn Rapids (Wanawish) Dam (river mile 18.0); May 1 - May 31.

Area 2: from the Interstate 82 bridge at Union Gap (river mile 107.1) to the BNRR bridge approximately 500 feet downstream of Roza Dam (river mile 127.; May 1 - June 30.

Reason for action: Yakama Nation (YN) and WDFW fishery managers are forecasting a harvestable return of adult hatchery spring chinook to the Yakima River in 2010.

Other information:


For the duration of this salmon fishery, the upper "closed water" boundary line for Area 2 is moved upstream to the railroad bridge downstream of Roza Dam to provide additional opportunity to harvest abundant hatchery chinook.

Daily limit of two (2) hatchery chinook. Minimum size - 12 inches. Hatchery salmon are identified by a missing adipose fin and a healed scar in the location of the missing fin. Wild salmon (adipose fin intact) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.

Special Rules for Area 1: Terminal gear is restricted to one, single-point, barbless hook with a hook gap from point to shank of 3/4 inch or less when fishing for salmon. Use of bait is allowed.

Special Rules for Area 2: Terminal gear is restricted to one, single-point, barbless hook with a hook gap from point to shank of 3/4 inch or less. Use of bait is allowed (the "Selective Gear Rules" requirement prohibiting use of bait is temporarily suspended during the salmon fishery for all species). Night closure in effect. Retention of trout (size 12" to 20", daily limit 2) and other game fish is prohibited until the statewide river trout season opener on Saturday, June 5.

Closed to fishing for all species 400 feet upstream from the upstream side of the Yakima Ave./Terrace Heights Rd. bridge in Yakima, including the area adjacent and downstream of the Roza Wasteway No. 2 fish barrier rack next to Morton & Sons Inc.


Fishing for steelhead remains closed. All steelhead (rainbow trout greater than 20" in total length) must be immediately released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.

The new Columbia River Salmon/Steelhead Endorsement is required to participate in this fishery.

Information contacts: Paul Hoffarth, District 4 Fish Biologist, (509) 545-2284 (Pasco); Eric Anderson, District 8 Fish Biologist, (509) 457-9301 (Yakima); or John Easterbrooks, Regional Fish Program Manager, (509) 457-9330 (Yakima).

[jackelope]

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/rules_freshwater_river.j?body_of_water_id=1979

[KwackWacker]

just messin with u guys.....I fish the river alot...have'nt made the first go at it this year yet, any legit reports??

[countywarrior]

fish counts are still  low over prosser but there are fish going over the roza........Indians are getting fish at the parker dam so theres fish in the water....Myself i will be hitting the river first thing in the morning.....gotta hit it before this warm weather blows it out of shape!