Salem-News.com Fish And Wildlife articles

A Fish Story

The problems facing our Sockeye and other fisheries are not secret.

(GOLD RIVER, B.C.) - Historically the Pacific Northwest of North America has been one of those spots in the world where food is usually always abundant. The sea along its coast has always been a good provider, and the most important gift that that sea has offered up is the Pacific salmon that once filled its rivers and streams from far west of Alaska to Central California. That is changing.

This year the return of Sockeye to the Fraser River collapsed and finally the Canadian government is ordering judicial inquiry into why this happened.

Wild Coho Season Closes in Yaquina, Nehalem Basins

Fin-clipped hatchery coho may be retained in both the Yaquina and the Nehalem basins.

(TILLAMOOK, Ore.) - The first wild coho season in 15 years on two coastal river basins will close this week as anglers reach harvest limits designed to provide what biologists hope will become Oregon’s newest sustainable salmon fishery.

Retention of non fin-clipped coho will close on the Yaquina and Nehalem rivers at the end of the regular fishing day on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Both rivers will remain open to adipose fin-clipped hatchery coho through the end of the year. In addition, the Yaquina remains open for chinook salmon under 2009 temporary rules.

Killer Whales Have a Fighting Chance to Survive...Us

The preponderance of protected stretches of both ocean and coasts gives orcas a boost in their struggle to stay one step ahead of extinction.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Dear EarthTalk: How are populations of the world’s orca whales faring these days? Are we still in danger of losing them all in the wild? -- J. Witham, Bangor, ME

ET:The largest member of the dolphin family and a major draw at marine parks, orcas (also known as “killer whales”) are highly intelligent and social marine mammals that, because of these traits, have come to be known as ambassadors for nature and marine ecosystems around the world.

ODFW Raises Coho Salmon Bag Limit on Upper Willamette

Fishery managers are projecting that 700,000 coho will return to the Columbia River this year, which would be the largest return since 2001.

(CORVALLIS, Ore.) - Anglers may keep an additional coho salmon on the Willamette River and its tributaries above Willamette Falls under new rules adopted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Effective September 1st, the daily bag limit for coho salmon and steelhead in combination increases to three fish on the Willamette River above Willamette Falls, Molalla, and Santiam rivers.

Former NW Governors `Fillet` Federal Salmon Plan (AUDIO)

A letter from the Governor asks the federal government to craft a new salmon recovery plan that is "lawful and science-based."

(PORTLAND, Ore. ONS) - In about one week, the federal government will announce whether it will throw out the previous administration's plan for endangered native salmon recovery and start over.

Three former Northwest governors have already made their minds up, including John Kitzhaber here in Oregon, Cecil Andrus in Idaho and Mike Lowry in Washington.

Chinook Season to Close on Snake River

This closure is necessary to resolve confusion caused by non-concurrent regulations between Oregon and Idaho.

(LA GRANDE, Ore.) - The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today the upcoming closure of the Snake River spring chinook sport fishery. The closure is effective July 2nd 2009 at 11:59 p.m.

The season for Snake River hatchery fish opened on May 30th from the Dug Bar Boat Ramp to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam. Fishery managers say they opened this sport season because the predicted number of hatchery spring chinook returning to the base of Hells Canyon Dam exceeded the number needed for broodstock purposes.

Sun Will Shine on This Year`s Detroit Fishing Derby

If the forecast holds together, there may not be a better place to be this weekend than Detroit Lake.

(DETROIT, Ore.) - The Annual Detroit Fishing Derby has landed on a spectacular weather weekend this year! With high’s near 80 on Saturday and Sunday, this promises to be a gorgeous time to be on the lake.

The Derby starts Friday May 15th and goes through Sunday the 17th. Registration and fish entry is from 6:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday the last fish is counted at 2pm sharp. The registration fee is $12 for adults and $7 for kids.

Meet Salem-News.com`s New Outdoor Reporters (VIDEO)

Gerrit Roelof and Mitch Webb will bring the best of Oregon's outdoors to our viewers.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As we announced just days ago, Salem-News.com has added two new outdoor reporters to our staff of contributors.

Gerrit Roelof and Mitch Webb will write and report on the wide array of outdoor recreational activities and opportunities that the state of Oregon offers residents.

Kids Get Fishing Experience at Canby Pond

Changes at a local pond expand opportunities for kids to learn fishing techniques.

(CANBY, Ore.) - Oregon Fish & Wildlife brought a truckload of trout to the Canby pond Monday, March 16th, 2009. This delivery starts off the Spring hatchery trout fishery here, while launching some new, noticeable regulations.

Yellow ODFW signs inform anglers that the pond is now for the use of youth who are 17 and younger, and holders of any one of Oregons handicapped fishing permits.

Two Outdoor Writers Join Salem-News.com Staff

"Fishing & Outdoor" articles are highly sought after, and we are pleased to bring this popular subject to our readers.

(SALEM, Ore.) - If there is one thing that we have wished we could cover more at Salem-News, it is the great outdoors. No state has more to offer in terms of fishing, hiking, hunting and other outdoor recreational activity.

This wondrous side of Oregon and the great Northwest will now come to life on the pages of Salem-News.com thanks to two local writers who have the most fascinating qualifications.