ENTIAT — Fishing season for Chinook salmon on the Entiat River will open a week early and the upstream boundary will be expanded, according to a press release from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 

The season will open July 9 and is scheduled to stay open through Sept. 30.

The release said the return of Chinook to the river is expected to be in excess of what’s needed for hatchery broodstock, and as a result, anglers will have more chances to fish. The goal is to protect wild adult spring Chinook, listed under the Endangered Species Act, at the spawning grounds.

Anglers can retain up to six Chinook daily, and they must be at least 12 inches. All salmon that aren’t Chinook must be released.

The fishery will be open from the confluence of the Entiat and Columbia Rivers at the railroad bridge to the Mad River Road Bridge near Ardenvoir, about 10 miles. Night closure is in effect.

“This fishery will be monitored closely and may close on short notice if there are impacts to ESA listed spring Chinook,” the press release said.