By Oregon House and Senate Republicans
June 11, 2025
While the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is anticipating a good fall fishing season for Chinook and Coho in most coastal basins, Coastal House and Senate Republicans are growing concerned about the potential for Chinook salmon fishing to be heavily restricted on the Umpqua River for the fall 2025 season. ODFW’s abundance estimates for 2024 show an alarming return of just 1,318—well under the projected return of 3,360 and the lowest on record.
Given these concerning return rates, the ODFW Commission is anticipating public input this Friday (6/13/25) on a potential proposal to halt Chinook salmon fishing throughout much of the Umpqua River in an effort to help the population rebound. Under the proposal, bank fishing for hatchery Chinook would remain open below Highway 101.
Senator Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City), Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford), Representative Boomer Wright (R-Reedsport), and Representative Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg) issued a joint statement urging the Commission to take into consideration the impact a halt to Chinook salmon fishing would have on anglers, guides, small businesses, and all those who enjoy the Umpqua River from Roseburg to the Coast:
“Anglers, guides, and small business owners should not suffer due to the failed forest management and climate policies in Oregon by the majority party. When forest management is neglected and wildfires are allowed to burn, our forest canopies disappear, and water temperatures rise. These rising temperatures have an extreme negative impact on our rivers and salmon populations and benefit invasive species such as smallmouth bass that feed on them. The unintended consequences of failed policies require a new direction. In the meantime, we trust the scientists at ODFW to help carve the best path forward in the short term that will balance a healthy Chinook salmon population with Oregon anglers, guides, and communities who rely on it.”
The post Republicans urge ODFW keep chinook salmon fishing season open first appeared on Oregon Catalyst.
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: News Update
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://oregoncatalyst.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.
