[ODFW-News] Spring chinook changes announced for Rogue River

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 

Contact: Brad Wurfel (503) 947-6020 

Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us   Fax: (503) 947-6009

For Immediate Release Friday, June 2, 2006

Spring chinook changes announced for Rogue River

ROSEBURG - State fishery officials today announced that retention of
wild spring chinook salmon will close June 5 on the Rogue River to
protect fish stocks. Anglers still will be allowed to retain adipose
fin-clipped chinook. 

In addition, the fishing season for spring chinook between Gold Ray Dam
and Rogue Elk County Park will close June 30.

The decision was made in light of a second year of low spring chinook
returns. As of May 31, the count at Gold Ray Dam totaled 3,245 spring
chinook salmon, 22 percent of the 10-year average return of 14,680 fish
by the end of May. 

"We considered the possibility that the run is late, but looking at
water temperatures this spring and reports from the fishery throughout
the river, there does not appear to be any evidence of a delayed fish
migration," said District Fish Biologist Dan VanDyke. "In the face of
this year's dismal returns, ODFW must take this step to protect wild
spring chinook stocks on the Rogue River."

VanDyke said the season changes will maximize spawning escapement for
wild spring chinook, while providing as much angling access as possible
for hatchery spring chinook and the healthier fall chinook run expected
later this year. 

The following changes are designed to protect the migration of spring
chinook salmon as they travel up the Rogue River and reopen for the
harvest of healthy fall chinook. 

Specific changes to existing chinook regulations include the following:

* Tidewater upstream to Whiskey Creek Boat Landing: June 5 - July 14,
anglers may retain only adipose fin-clipped chinook.

* Whiskey Creek upstream to Hog Creek Boat Landing: June 5 - July 31,
anglers may retain only adipose fin-clipped chinook. 

* Hog Creek upstream to Gold Ray Dam: June 5-Aug. 14, anglers may retain
only adipose fin-clipped chinook. 

* Gold Ray Dam to the Rogue Elk Boat Ramp: June 5 - June 30, anglers may
retain only adipose fin-clipped chinook. July 1 through Oct. 1, closed
to chinook angling.

* Rogue Elk Boat Ramp to Cole Rivers Hatchery Dam: June 5 - July 31,
anglers may retain only adipose fin-clipped chinook.

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