ROSEBURG, Ore. - Fishing for fall Chinook salmon on the Umpqua, Smith, and North Fork Smith rivers is now closed while the bag limit for salmon in the Coos Basin has increased, state wildlife officials said.

According to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission, this closure takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 19 after reaching the quota of 500 wild fall Chinook.

This limited fishery was adopted in June due to forecasted low returns of wild fall Chinook salmon. Umpqua District Fish Biologist Evan Leonetti noted that the Chinook fishery started slowly, with only 30 percent of the quota harvested by July.

"We typically see low catch rates in July as fall Chinook are beginning to move into the bay," Leonetti said. "Angler harvest increased in August, and the quota was met on Aug. 16. Althoug

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