2022 COLUMBIA RIVER WINTER COMMERCIAL GILLNET FISHERY

Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Fish and Wildlife Code of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the Fish and Wildlife Commission has the authority to establish emergency regulations for Umatilla ceremonial, subsistence, and commercial fisheries.  Pursuant to that authority, the Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted the following regulations. 

ZONE 6 COMMERCIAL GILLNET FISHERY

Area:  John Day Pool Only

Dates:  6 AM Tuesday February 1 to 6 PM Saturday February 26 2022.

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Area:  The Dalles Pool Only

Dates:  6 AM Wednesday February 16 to 6 PM Friday February 18, 2022.

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Restrictions:  Closed areas in effect include standard dam and river mouth areas applicable to gillnet gear.   

Gear:  Gill nets with no minimum mesh restriction 

Allowable Sales:  Salmon (any species), steelhead, shad, yellow perch, bass, walleye, catfish, and carp may be sold or retained for subsistence.  Sturgeon from 43 to 54 inches in fork length in The Dalles and John Day Pools only when caught during open periods for that pool may be sold.  Legal sized sturgeon may be kept for subsistence purposes.  Fish landed during the open periods are allowed to be sold after the period concludes.  

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ZONE 6 PLATFORM AND HOOK AND LINE FISHERY

Area:  All of Zone 6

Dates/Times:  6:00 AM Tuesday February 1 to 6:00 PM Saturday March 19, 2022.

Gear: Hoop nets, dip nets, hook and line.   

Allowable Sales:  Salmon (any species), steelhead, shad, carp, catfish, walleye, bass and yellow perch may be sold or retained for subsistence. Sales of fish are allowed after the fishing period as long as they were landed during the open period. Sturgeon of legal size for that pool may be sold only if caught during open commercial gillnet periods for that pool. Sturgeon from 43-54” fork length in the John Day and The Dalles pools and from 38-54” in the Bonneville Pool may be retained for subsistence.

Restrictions:  Closed areas in effect include standard dam and river mouth areas applicable to hook and line gear.   

COVID-19 Safety Reminders

The CTUIR Fish and Wildlife Commission encourages you to safely practice your treaty rights with consideration for COVID-19, including the following:

CTUIR Standards

1. No travel restrictions at this time.   
2. Practice social distancing of 6 feet whenever possible;
3. Face coverings will be required outside in places where people cannot keep a distance of more than 6 feet from others. Stay home if you are sick;
4. Keep groups comprised of no more than six (6) direct family members, from no more than two (2) households; and
5. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds;
6. Clean your tools, equipment and/or gear with sanitizer, particularly if/when you have to share.
7. Fish with direct family members with which you reside if possible.

Additional Information:

There’s been a CTUIR COVID-19 Resource website established @ https://www.ctuircovid.info/ and

CRITFC has a website for tribal fisher to reference @ https://www.critfc.org/safe-fishers-safe-fisheries and

https://www.critfc.org/blog/fishery/covid-safe-harvest-sales-workshop.

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24-hour quick reporting required for Washington buyers, pursuant to WAC 220-69-240 except that landings must be reported within 24-hours of completing the fish ticket.  If you have any fishing enforcement problems or need assistance or information, day or night, contact the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fisheries Enforcement Office, 4270 Westcliff Drive, Hood River, Oregon.  Phone: (541)-386-6363 or toll-free (800)-487-FISH (3474). 

If you have any questions on the regulations please contact FWC Chair Corinne Sams at 541-429-7371 or Preston Bronson, CTUIR Harvest Manager.at 541-429-7277.

Remember to get your Boat Safety Certificate for 2022

PLEASE WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKETS FOR SAFETY and avoid overloaded boats.

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The attached Columbia River Winter Commercial Gillnet Fishery Regulations for February 16-18 & 1-26 were approved by Fish & Wildlife Commission on February 15, 2022.