LITTLE GOOSE DAM – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has announced a spring Chinook salmon fishing opener for the Snake River below Little Goose Dam, effective Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The season will remain open until further notice, with fishing permitted only on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The designated area for this fishery extends from the Texas Rapids boat launch—upstream of the mouth of the Tucannon River—to the fishing restriction boundary just below the dam. Both riverbanks and the concrete area known as “the Wall” near the juvenile collection facility are included.
Regulations for the fishery are as follows:
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Daily limit: Four hatchery (adipose-clipped) Chinook salmon, including no more than one adult (24 inches or longer).
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Minimum size: 12 inches.
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Only hatchery Chinook may be retained; all other salmon species must be released.
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Barbless hooks are required.
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Fishing must cease once the adult limit is reached.
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A night closure is in effect.
The opening follows the 2025 Columbia River forecast indicating a sufficient return of upriver spring Chinook salmon, allowing for recreational harvest in compliance with the U.S. v. Oregon (2018–2027) Management Agreement and WDFW Commission Policy C-3630. The preseason allocation for the Snake River recreational fishery is 407 fish, including harvest and release mortalities.
Anglers are reminded that Chinook with intact adipose fins, bull trout, and steelhead must be released immediately and unharmed. Fishers are also prohibited from removing any salmon or steelhead from the water unless it is being retained.
WDFW will continue to monitor the fishery throughout the season and may close it based on harvest numbers, run size updates, or Endangered Species Act considerations. Fishers are advised to check the WDFW website for emergency rule updates before planning their trips.
For more information, contact WDFW Fish Biologist Jeremy Trump at 509-382-1005. Anglers must have a current Washington fishing license appropriate to the fishery. Full regulations can be found in the 2024–2025 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet or online at wdfw.wa.gov.
