Harvest Updates

Yakama Nation Harvest Management

Under the Treaty of 1855, the Yakama Nation reserved the right to fish, hunt and gather and other rights at all usual and accustomed places. This includes the preservation of fish habitat at all usual and accustomed fishing places. 

The Yakama Nation manages fisheries resources to ensure continued access by Yakama members to fulfill their ceremonial, subsistence and commercial needs.  This treaty reserved right includes the right to have fish present to harvest, at all usual and accustomed places.

Harvest News

The 2026 smelt return is expected to be slightly less than the 10-year average of 8.6 million pounds to the Columbia River. Some of these fish will enter the Cowlitz River and provide an opportunity for YN enrolled members to harvest smelt.

The Fish & Wildlife Committee authorize additional commercial sturgeon setline fishing in The Dalles Pool from 6am Monday February 2 through 6pm Saturday February 7, 2026. See full regulations attached.

ATTENTION:

The Fish & Wildlife Committee hereby authorize a commercial setline fishery for white sturgeon.

Pursuant to authorities granted by Sections 32.14.01-32.14.05 of the Revised Law & Order Code of the Yakama Nation, and consistent with current regulations that exist in Section 32.18.05 pertaining to subsistence fishing, approve a regulation...

The Fish & Wildlife Committee authorize weekly openings on the Icicle River from 6am Mondays to 9pm Saturdays October 27 through November 27, 2025. Regulations attached.

The Fish & Wildlife Committee authorize additional commercial gillnet fishing in Zone 6 of the Columbia River from 6am Wednesday Oct 22 to 6pm Saturday Oct 25, 2025. No Mesh Restriction. Regs attached

The Fish & Wildlife Committee have authorized two additional fall commercial gillnet openings in Zone 6 of the Columbia River from 6am Monday Oct 6 TO 6PM Thursday Oct 9 and from 6am Monday Oct 13 to 6pm Thursday Oct 16, 2025.

The Fish & Wildlife Committee has authorized additional fall commercial gillnet fishing in Zone 6 of the Columbia River from 6am Monday Sept 29 to 6pm Friday Oct 3, 2025. See regs attached.

The FIsh & Wildlife Committee have authorized additional Fall Commercial Gillnet time from 6am Monday Sep 22 to 6pm Friday Sept 26, 2025. Spring Creek NFH Sanctuary is also reduced to the 150 ft radius at the ladder.