SALEM, Ore. -- Strong returns in the Snake River have allowed the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to open a spring chinook fishery below Hells Canyon Dam.

The fishery opens April 26 and will last as late as July 20. The section of river will be open to sport fishing seven days a week from Dug Bar Boat Ramp to the deadline below Hells Canyon Dam.

The department says it expects more than 124,000 hatchery chinook to migrate over Lower Granite Dam in 2008.

The daily bag limit will be three adult adipose fin-clipped spring chinook per day. Two fin-clipped jack chinook may be retained along with the adult bag limit.

To reduce the impact on wild fish, fishing must be with barbless hooks.