Summary of Columbia River Fall Salmon and
Summer Steelhead Returns for 2002

Summary of Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Returns in 2001, Forecasts for 2002, and Actual Returns for 2002. Species, stock 2001 Return 2002 Forecast 2002 Actual Comments Fall chinook 548,800 659,800 714,600 Third largest since 1948 Upriver bright (URB) 232,600 273,800 285,400  Third largest since 1964 Snake River wild (SRW) NA NA NA   Mid-Columbia bright (MCB) 75,300 91,800 101,900 Largest on record (since 1981) Bonneville upriver bright (BUB) 42,100 45,700 54,000 Second largest on record (since 1981) Pool upriver bright (PUB) 33,200 46,100 47,900 Largest on record (since 1986) Lower river bright (LRB) 1,000 1,900 1,900 Formally part of the MCB stock Bonneville pool hatchery (BPH) 125,000 136,000 163,800 Fifth largest on record (since 1964) Lower river hatchery (LRH) 94,300 133,000 137,700 Largest since 1988 Lower river wild (LRW) 15,700 18,300 18,300 Largest since 1991 Select area bright (SAB) 4,900 5,000 5,500 Second largest on record (since 1985) Upriver summer steelhead 630,200 447,800 478,000 Second largest on record (since 1938) Skamania index (May 1 - June 30) 28,700 17,400 25,000 Second largest on record (since 1984) A-run index (length <78cm) 515,100 369,700 323,100 Third largest on record (since 1984) A-run index wild (length <78cm) 137,200 105,000 87,300 Fourth largest on record (since 1984) B-run index (length >78cm) 86,400 60,600 129,900 Largest on record (since 1984) B-run index wild (length >78cm) 12,000 21,600 32,300 Largest on record (since 1984) Coho 1,078,600 171,600 405,000 Similar to 1970-1989 average Early stock 672,700 112,700 254,100 Similar to 1970-1989 Average Late stock 405,900 58,900 150,900 Similar to 1970-1989 Average Note for using table:   Columbia River mouth return except summer steelhead is Bonneville Dam return.

• The combined return of fall chinook, coho, and summer steelhead to the Columbia River in 2002 totaled 1.6 million adults which is the fourth largest total since 1970, exceeded only by returns of 2.3 million in 2001, 1.8 million in 1988, and 2.5 million in 1986.
  
  
• Bonneville passage totalled 473,754 fall chinook adults which is the largest count since Bonneville Dam was constructed in 1938.
  
  
• A total of 141,625 adult fall chinook passed McNary Dam which is the second largest count since McNary Dam was constructed in 1954 and represents the 19^th consecutive year in which the 43,500 fish escapement goal was exceeded.
  
  
• Through November 7 a total of 26,686 adult fall chinook passed Priest Rapids Dam which is similar to the 1999-2001 average of 30,900.
  
  
• A total of 15,383 adult fall chinook passed Ice Harbor Dam which is the largest count since 1968.
  
  
• Through November 8 fall chinook passage over Lower Granite Dam has included 12,229 adults, which is the largest count since Lower Granite Dam was constructed in 1975.
  
  
• A total of 36,364 bright jacks and 3,843 tule jacks passed Bonneville Dam in 2002.  The bright jack count is larger than the previous 10-year average of 32,000 but is less than the large jack counts of 50,300 in 2000 and 65,800 in 2001.  Similarly, the tule jack count is larger than the previous 10-year average of 2,800 but less than the large jack counts of 8,600 in 2001 and 5,100 in 1998 and 2000.

Columbia River Fall Sport Fishery Summaries and Highlights for 2002

Buoy 10 (Buoy 10 to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line)

• For the season a total of 80,500 angler trips resulted in 19,000 chinook and 6,000 coho being retained.
• The catch of 19,000 chinook in the Buoy 10 fishery is the third largest catch on record but only half the record large catch of 42,100 in 1987.

Lower Columbia (Bonneville Dam to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line)

• The adult chinook catch for August 1-October 31 is 21,200 from 110,800 angler trips.  
• The 21,200 adult chinook catch is the largest catch on record and greatly exceeds the previous record large catches of 9,200 in 1996 and 8,000 in 1997.

Upper Columbia River (Hanford Reach)

• The catch of 7,300 fall chinook in the 2002 Hanford Reach sport fishery was the largest catch since 1968.