Al Thomas
The Columbian
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Past articles by Al:
Retirement means more time to fish
The Columbian's longtime outdoor writer calls it a career after 43 years at the newspaper → Read More
Columbia Gorge a walleye bonanza this year
Angling has been very good since spring in The Dalles and John pools → Read More
Fishing report 6/22
Summer chinook, steelhead, sockeye season gets off to a typical start in the lower Columbia River despite high streamflows → Read More
Legislation would extend Columbia River fishing fee
Salmon-steelhead charge of $8.75 slated to expire at the end of June unless renewed by Legislature → Read More
Fishing report 6/15
Summer chinook, sockeye and steelhead seasons in Columbia River begin on Friday → Read More
PacifiCorp buys land for Mount St. Helens’ elk
Utility acquires another 1,880 acres in Marble Mountain area north of Swift Reservoir to manage as wildlife habitat → Read More
Goose Lake open now in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Snow has melted enough to reach popular lake, campground from east and south, but not yet from Carson side → Read More
Steelhead fishing restrictions begin June 16
Anglers in Columbia, Cowlitz, Lewis, Wind, White Salmon rivers, plus Drano Lake, will be cut back to conserve poorest run in 37 years → Read More
Hooking mortality study starts on Cowlitz River
Research results on chinook, coho and steelhead likely to be applied to a variety of Northwest recreational fisheries → Read More
Fishing report 6/8
Sturgeon retention will be open on Saturday both in the Columbia estuary, plus in Bonneville pool; trout fishing opened strong at Swift Reservoir and Yale Reservoir yielding kokanee → Read More
Overhaul coming for winter steelhead streams
Local hatcheries to change stocks to comply with federal requirements to protect wild fish → Read More
Fishing report 6/1
Trout season opens Saturday in Swift Reservoir with 45,000 rainbow trout stocked for anglers → Read More
Columbia sturgeon retention to resume Monday
Washington, Oregon approve six days of fishing in the estuary, with seasons upstream anticipated in fall → Read More
Sturgeon retention opener mulled for lower Columbia
Anglers would get a chance to keep a sturgeon in the lower river for the first time since 2013 if season is adopted → Read More
Spring starting snow in Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Most spots above 3,000 feet elevation remain inaccessible by vehicle for Memorial Day weekend → Read More
Fishing report 5/25
Road closure prevents trout stocking for opening day at Canyon Creek → Read More
North Lewis River spring chinook bounce back
Salmon return to long-suffering stream expected to double forecast → Read More
Fishing report 5/18
Columbia River spring chinook forecast cut in half → Read More
Lower Columbia steelhead season opening postponed
Washington, Oregon to start delay of angling for hatchery steelhead and jack chinook downstream of Interstate 5 due to low count at Bonneville Dam → Read More
Columbia spring chinook run remains a puzzle
High streamflow may be delaying passage at Bonneville Dam or run just might be smaller than anticipated → Read More