Fishery managers have set the Columbia River recreational spring Chinook salmon fishing season.  The Columbia River will be open from March 1 to April 8 from the Buoy 10 line upstream to Beacon Rock, plus only the Oregon and Washington banks from Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline marker.  From April 1 to 26 and on May 2 the Columbia River will be open from the Tower Island power lines approximately six miles below The Dalles Dam upstream to the Washington/Oregon border, plus only the Oregon and Washington banks from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines.  Daily limit for salmon and steelhead is six, with no more than two adults, and only one may be an adult chinook.  All wild steelhead and salmon other than hatchery Chinook must be released.  Salmon must be at least 12 inches to keep.  Shad retention is permitted, with no size minimum or daily limit.  The 2026 forecast for upriver spring Chinook is 147,300 fish, which is less than the 154,703 that returned to the Columbia River in 2025, but higher than the 10-year average return of 126,248.