The state Department of Fish and Wildlife late yesterday afternoon announced that Klickitat River anglers will be able to retain two hatchery chinook, hatchery steelhead or one of each as part of their daily limit.

The change will be in effect from April 3 through May 31. The river will be open Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.

The rule change covers the stretch of the Klickitat from mouth to the Fisher Hill Bridge, located about 3 miles upstream from the mouth.

The state made the change because 4,500 adult spring chinook are expected to return to the Klickitat this year. More than 70 percent of the run is expected to be hatchery fish.

After consulting with the Yakama Indian Nation, an additional hatchery spring chinook or hatchery steelhead was added to the daily limit, said a news release. In addition, the extra weekend day of fishing added last year will continue in the spring of 2010.

A night closure and anti-snag rule will be in effect.