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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Striped bass moving over Bonneville Dam? See photo

Counters photographed what appears to be a striped bass going through Bradford Island count station at Bonneville Dam in late June 2013. 
 (courtesy)
Counters photographed what appears to be a striped bass going through Bradford Island count station at Bonneville Dam in late June 2013. (courtesy)

FISHING -- Is a new fishery moving up into the Columbia?

Last week a commercial fishing crew caught a 52-pound stripped bass in the Columbia Gorge.

A few days ago, counters photographed what appears to be a striped bass (see bottom of photo) going through Bradford Island count station at Bonneville Dam.

Striped bass are extremely rare in Washington waters, but occasionally turn up in the Columbia around this time of year, notes Northwest Sportsman magazine. They were introduced to San Francisco Bay waters in the late 1800s and migrated up to Coos Bay and environs, but in recent years, with changing salinity, haven’t fared as well as they once did.

  • The first pink salmon of the year was counted at Bonneville Dam on June 24th. Pinks run to Washington rivers on odd-numbered years.


Rich Landers

Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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