Salmon, steelhead fisheries close for season

PASCO – Most salmon and steelhead fishing closed on the Columbia River downstream of the Tri-Cities today following a season of low return runs.

The Hanford/Ringgold salmon fishery remains open, state Department of Fish and Wildlife, officials said. But the Ringgold steelhead fishery is closed through Dec. 31.

Downstream of the U.S. Highway 395 bridge, the fishery is closed. The closure includes steelhead fisheries on the Snake and Clearwater rivers.

State officials say the steelhead run is the fourth lowest return on record since 1962 on both the Snake and upper Columbia rivers.