WILD BLOG: Cold water might mean cold feet for Columbia River managers
NEW April 12, 2009 / 1:30 p.m

PORTLAND, Ore. - Will ODFW and WDFW get cold feet this year?

So far this spring, the Columbia River springer bite has been off to a slow start.  Not terrible, but slower than it was at this time last year. Dam passage is way down too. 

Are there less fish this year? Are they late? Did the biologists over-estimate the run?

My biggest fear this spring is that with lower dam passage, the powers at be will get nervous and shut down fishing because we are catching "too many" fish.  Then after it closes, the water temperature will rise and the fish will make a big push over the dam and be gone.

Temperature dictates timing: If you look at the current water temperature and compare it to the 10-year average it has been 4 to 5 degrees below what it should be.

Spring Chinook are very influenced by water temp. Temperature to them is like rainfall is to their fall cousins. As it rises, it tells them when to move toward their home streams before the heat of summer advances. 

Other factors: A couple other things about this years run/catch: The gill nets are actually in the river the day before it opens for us. 

WONDERFUL! Let them clean out the river the day before.

Also, to make things worse, Bonneville started spilling water on Thursday shutting down the bite.  All the more reason to make it look like there's less fish.

Lets hope we don't get our heels cooled down and we can actually get all the season they gave us.