Record runs of Columbia River chinook, coho forecast

Did you hear we can expect a record run of salmon and steelhead this year? This news is exciting enough to get every salmon and steelhead angler checking their tackle. Read on.

Salmon fishing in the ocean and the Columbia River this summer could be great thanks to an abundant run of hatchery coho and a potentially historic return of chinook, according to Fish and Wildlife.

The forecasts for chinook, coho, sockeye and chum salmon were released at a public meeting in Olympia recently, marking the starting point for developing 2014 salmon-fishing seasons.

This year's forecasts include a return of more than 1.6 million Columbia River fall chinook salmon, which would be the largest since record-keeping began in 1938. A return of nearly 1 million Columbia River coho salmon is expected back this summer as well.

Of the 1.6 million fall chinook expected to return to the Columbia River this season, nearly 86 percent of those fish are "bright" stocks. Those fish, most of which are destined for areas above Bonneville Dam, are the foundation of the in-river recreational salmon fishery.

If that run comes in as forecast, the total number of brights would exceed last year's entire Columbia River run of 1.2 million chinook salmon. Additionally, the ocean abundance of Columbia River coho is forecast to be about 964,000 fish, three times as many fish as last year's actual abundance.

Of course, record runs forecast for the Columbia River means better than normal fishing in the Pacific Ocean.

Columbia River fisheries meetings scheduled

Anglers have two opportunities in March to meet with state fishery managers to talk about salmon and steelhead fisheries in the mid- and upper Columbia River before this year's seasons are set. The meetings are scheduled for March 26 and 27.

The meetings with Fish and Wildlife fishery managers are to discuss pre-season forecasts and upcoming spring, summer and fall fishing seasons, particularly those for salmon and steelhead upstream from McNary Dam.

The date time and meeting place includes: March 26: 6-9 p.m., in the main lecture hall at Walla Walla Community College, 1470 Bridge St. in Clarkston. March 27: 6-8 p.m., at the Benton PUD building, 2721 W. 10th Ave. in Kennewick.

These meetings are part of the salmon season-setting process known as North of Falcon, which involves representatives from federal, state and tribal governments and recreational and commercial fishing industries. Additional public meetings have been scheduled through March to discuss regional fishery issues

Final salmon fishing seasons will be adopted at the Pacific Fishery Management Council meeting April 5-10 in Vancouver.

Hunters have until March 31 to apply for multiple-season permits

Deer and elk hunters have until March 31 to enter their name in a drawing for a 2014 multiple-season permit, which can greatly increase their opportunities for success in the field.

In mid-April, Fish and Wildlife will randomly draw names for 8,500 multiple-season deer permits and 1,000 multiple-season elk permits.

Winners of the drawing will be eligible to purchase a special tag allowing them to participate in archery, muzzleloader and modern firearm general hunting seasons for deer or elk in 2014. Winners who purchase the multiple-season elk tag by Aug. 31 can participate in general elk-hunting season in both eastern and western Washington.

Winners also may choose any weapon type when applying for a special permit to hunt deer or elk.

The tags can be used only during general seasons and in game management units that are open during a modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery general season. For example, winners may not hunt during the muzzleloader general season in an area that is not open for the muzzleloader general season.

Also, hunters can apply only once for each species and are limited to harvesting one deer or elk.

A 2014 hunting license is not required to submit an application, but winners of the drawing must purchase one before they can purchase a multiple-season tag.