According to several reports the sockeye salmon returning to the Columbia River are dying en mass. Biologist say fish are dying off to the tune of possibly 250,000 of the projected 500,000 returning sockeye. The cause...

Closeup underwater view of sockeye salmon school spawning
Closeup underwater view of sockeye salmon school spawning
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Extremely warm river temperatures. In fact salmon show signs of distress when the river temperatures reach above 68 degrees and will stop migrating altogether when temperatures reach 74 degrees. some river temps are ranging in the 76 degree range.

according to the Union Bulletin:

Efforts by management teams to cool flows below 70 degrees by releasing cold water from selected reservoirs are continuing in an attempt to prevent similar fish kills among chinook salmon and steelhead, which migrate later in the summer from the Pacific Ocean.

Stand by for more updates on how this will affect fishing this fall.

 

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