Oregon/Washington: Sturgeon retention closes in John Day Reservoir on April 10

Oregon and Washington fishery managers announced yesterday the
closure of sturgeon retention in the John Day Reservoir of the
Columbia River effective 12:01 a.m. April 10, 2011.

The 2011 white sturgeon harvest quota is 500 fish, which
managers predict will be met on April 9.

In other areas of the Columbia River, sturgeon harvest in The
Dalles Reservoir is currently well within it’s harvest quota of 300
fish and remains open to the retention of sturgeon.

The Bonneville Reservoir was closed on Feb. 19 based on a
projected harvest of 2,000 white sturgeon. However, catch rates in
this reservoir slowed during the last 10 days of the season and
managers estimate that there are still 370 fish available under the
quota. Managers are considering options to re-open the season to
allow anglers to harvest these remaining fish.

All three reservoirs remain open for catch-and-release fishing
for white sturgeon through the end of the year except in designated
sturgeon sanctuaries in place from May 1-July 31 immediately below
The Dalles and John Day dams.