Springer update

Published 2:45 pm Friday, March 4, 2011

There was some improvement over the weekend in spring chinook success rates on the Columbia, mostly between Woodland and the I-5 bridge, said Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Joe Hymer in Vancouver. The agency noted about 100 boats Saturday on that stretch of river, and creel checkers tallied about one king for every three boats, mostly 5-year fish running 18 to 25 pounds.

Tuesday morning marked the opening of an additional 22 miles of river to boat fishermen, from I-5 upriver to Rooster Rock, but Hymer said there was little fishing pressure in that area and only a sprinkling of fish taken, mostly just above the freeway bridge.