Springers

Spring chinook action is officially under way on the lower Columbia, according to all reports, as state personnel sampled 565 fishermen March 1-4, with 21 springers and three steelhead. Boat fishermen averaged one king kept/released for every 17.6 rods, and all the fish were checked from the mouth of the Lewis to Vancouver.

Biologist Joe Hymer, at the state's Vancouver office, said two springers were checked over the Bonneville ladder on Sunday, and that the first fish of the year was seen at the Cowlitz salmon hatchery last week.