The lower Columbia River will close Friday evening to spring chinook salmon fishing, a day earlier than expected. The closure, from the mouth to Bonneville Dam, includes steelhead and shad. Oregon and Washington biologists met by phone Thursday afternoon and ordered the closure after accelerated catch rates the past several days pushed the early season sport allocation to nearly its limit of 7,515 hatchery salmon.

By day’s end Friday, the projected catch will be 7,404, they said. Continuing through Saturday would push the number to 8,505, well above the early season allowance. There was nearly unanimous support from sport anglers for the early closure, although guides also expressed concern about the short notice to their clients.

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