First spring chinook caught

Published 12:18 pm Wednesday, February 2, 2011

The first handful of spring chinook were caught last week (in commercial fisheries) on the lower Columbia River, according to state Fish and Wildlife biologist Joe Hymer in Vancouver. The first was caught off Wahkiakum County in a commercial white sturgeon fishery and, since the 18-pounder was a clipped-fin fish, it was legally sold — for $16 a pound, Hymer said. Two more springers were caught above the mouth of the Lewis, including one of 24.5 pounds, and a fourth fish was counted at Bonneville Dam.

Hymer said a few sport fishermen were out prospecting on the mainstem Columbia below I-5 over the weekend, but no fish were reported.