You can now fish along the east side of the Columbia River near the Third Powerhouse of Grand Coulee Dam from sunrise until sunset.

Closed after the September 11 terrorist attack in 2001, the spot is being reopened nearly 17 years later and will be patrolled by Colville Tribal Enforcement, a Colville Confederated Tribes Fish & Wildlife press release stated Friday.

Boats are not allowed past the SR-155 bridge in Coulee Dam, but anglers on foot can walk on a trail above the riprap rocks all the way to a popular rock formation right near the Third Powerhouse.

“Fishermen must take the Lone Pine exit from Highway 155 to the Down River Trail Road and park in the designated parking area,” the tribal press release stated. “Non-tribal members must have a tribal fishing permit in order to fish in this location. Colville tribal members must possess a Colville tribal identification card, which is a legal permit to fish. If safety issues are observed, security will re-evaluate the boundaries for access. For safety reasons, we would like the public to be aware that water flows will pick up during the spring run-off season, so please be careful.”

For regulations and permits, interested persons should visit https://www.cct-fnw.com/regulations-permits.

For more information, contact the Resident Fisheries Manager, Bret Nine, at 509-209-2419 or the Fish and Wildlife office at 509-634-2110.