New king fishery on Chelan River

Published 12:01 am Saturday, September 17, 2011

Anglers got their first chance Wednesday to fish summer chinook in the tailrace of the powerhouse on the lower Chelan River. The new fishery, scheduled to run through Oct. 15, is restricted to the outfall area extending about one-third of a mile downstream from the safety barrier near the powerhouse to the railroad bridge at the Columbia River.

The fishable area is limited, no boats are allowed, and there are special rules in effect. The daily limit is three adult kings, of which only one may be a wild fish.

“This opening will test whether we can conduct a fishery in such a restricted area,” said Jeff Korth, the state fish bioloigist at Ephrata.

This year’s return of summer chinook to the tailrace area will be the second since the rearing operation was moved there from its previous location on the Columbia. Korth expects about 2,000 fish to move through the tailrace this year and up to 3,000 next year. Once the Chelan PUD’s new salmon hatchery is completed, the annual return could increase to 7,000 salmon per year, Korth said.

“Most of the summer chinook produced at the new hatchery will be caught in the Columbia, but a fair number will make it back to the tailrace,” he said. “This could be a great fishery if all goes well this year.”