Following the Sunday opener, retention fishing will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays on Bonneville and The Dalles pools
OLYMPIA – The 2023 white sturgeon fishing season gets underway Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 on select sections of the Columbia River upstream of Bonneville Dam, fishery managers from Oregon and Washington announced Wednesday.
Retention of legal-size sturgeon opens New Year’s Day on Bonneville Pool (located between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam), The Dalles Pool (between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam), and John Day Pool (between John Day Dam and McNary Dam).
Following the Sunday opener, retention fishing will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays on Bonneville and The Dalles pools, while the John Day Pool will be open for sturgeon retention seven days per week.
The Dalles Pool saw a similar three-days-per-week fishing schedule in 2021, but the days-per-week schedule is new this year for the Bonneville Pool. The change is meant to provide greater stability and longer seasons for these areas, which have seen early closures in recent years due to variable catch rates that quickly met allowable harvest limits for how many legal-size fish could be retained.
“This days-per-week approach allows for improved monitoring of catch and fishing effort in these popular fisheries, while also helping to prolong the seasons,” said Laura Heironimus, sturgeon lead with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). “It worked well in The Dalles Pool in 2022, and we hope to replicate that success.”
The Dalles Pool closed to sturgeon retention just a few days into January 2021, when the quota was quickly met. After adopting the days-per-week fishing schedule in 2022, managers were able to extend the fishery there until late March.
The Bonneville Pool closed to daily fishing at the end of January 2022, after slow fishing in the first part of the month quickly gave way to increased catch rates in the latter half of the month.
Bonneville and The Dalles pools will remain open for catch-and-release fishing on days not open for retention.
In 2023, anglers will be able to keep up to 190 legal-size sturgeon in The Dalles Pool and 675 sturgeon in the Bonneville Pool. The 105-fish quota for John Day Pool will be under review in January, pending results from the 2022 stock assessment.
Anglers should consult the 2022-23 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for permanent regulations, and keep an eye out for any emergency rule updates, including additional modifications or potential closures on these pools.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife works to preserve, protect, and perpetuate fish, wildlife and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish, wildlife, and recreational and commercial opportunities.
Also read:
- High school football: New coach prepares for long-term success at Prairie High School
James Young-Lewis, a Clark County native who graduated from Evergreen in 2009, became Prairie’s head coach in May after working as an assistant coach across various programs since 2015, joining Prairie’s staff in 2024. - Battle Ground Public Schools secures funding for athletics programs
Donations from individuals and foundry10 met fundraising goals for golf, gymnastics, swimming, and bowling at BGPS. - Opinion: XX-XY – Follow the science
Columnist Nancy Churchill argues Initiative 638 would restore biological-sex requirements to Washington middle and high school sports. - Seattle Storm owner apologizes for game outburst over transgender policy dispute
Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton cursed at two teenage fans holding signs supporting Sophie Cunningham’s stance on girls sports. - Washougal MX National: Levi Kitchen looking to inspire younger riders, win in his hometown
Levi Kitchen leads the 250 Class with 261 points, racing Saturday just hundreds of yards from his family home.
