Is the columbia open for hatchery chinook now?

I do believe so. Ask Stacie, she would know for sure. You won't start to see fish for a while though, till about 2nd weekend in March.

It is open, here is the links to the WDFW news releases:
http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/do/feb02/feb0102c.htm
http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/regs/regchng/feb0802c.htm
Have heard of fish already being taken.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

If anyone is going to fish the Buoy 10 fishery, PLEASE stay out of the ship channel. That's the area between the red and green buoys. Last year, when I worked on the Chevron tanker Colorado, we almost plowed over some guy who couldn't start up his engine. If he hadn't turned to his trolling motor in time, he would have been chum. The problem is that a "real"(the Chevron Colorado is over 600 feet long) ship can't stop or maneuver in time to avoid a small boat that's in a narrow channel like the entrance to the Columbia River. Besides, you are in the wrong to be in the way. A vessel restricted in its ability to maneuver (especially due to draft) certainly has right of way over a sport fishing boat--and even a vessel under sail, for all you yachties. Besides, the fish tend to hang along the sides of the dredged channel, which is usually outside of the buoys. So please be safe if you plan on doing the Buoy 10 thing. Okay? If I go back to that ship, I don't want to have to say I told you so.

Thanks for the booster of common sense ceviche! What you described, I think, is a fishermans worst nightmare. Man, I would wake up in a cold sweat.

BTW, welcome to the board.