The Columbia River summer chinook fishery, which targets the storied “June hogs” of 30 or 40 pounds, is underway now through July 31 from the Astoria Bridge upstream to Priest Rapids Dam. The state forecast is for 93,000 fish this year, compared to last year’s record run of 127,000 and the 10-year average of 64,000.
Columbia River summer kings have the reputation of being difficult to catch, for whatever reason, and have elicited little interest compared to spring chinook and even fall fish in the Hanford Reach.
Biologists say the summers may have been tagged unfairly, however, and that tough fishing in the past may have been simply because of small runs. Now that returns of 100,000 fish or more seem to be the standard, they should rise in salmon anglers’ esteem quickly, they say.
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