A remarkable rebound for salmon in Oregon has led to a bountiful fishing season. It's also meant fishing quotas are being met early, resulting in the closure of one river.
Wild coho season on the Umpqua River will end October first, when biologists predict the quota of 2,000 fish will be met. Jessica Sall is with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:
Sall: "We do want to remind anglers that the river is still open for hatchery coho, or those fish that have their adipose fin clipped."
The Umpqua was fished to its limit this year in just over two weeks. Sall says salmon fishing throughout Oregon has been strong:
Sall: "The last few years we have seen a rather remarkable recovery of coastal coho salmon. It would have been unheard of several years ago to be fishing for wild fish."
She credits the resurgence to the Oregon Plan for Salmon and Watersheds. Over the past 15 years, the plan has helped rebuild habitat and improve water quality.
Other rivers, including the Siletz, Alsea and Siuslaw are still open for wild coho. Many rivers don't have quotas and will be fishable until the season ends, November 30th.
