Some sea lions at Willamette Falls may get a free vacation soon - on the beautiful southern Oregon coast.

Others may not be as fortunate.

Worried biologists report more than a dozen sea lions - nine California and five sturgeon-loving Steller's - hauled out below the falls last weekend, the highest number ever seen this early, especially the Steller's.

While the smaller California sea lions threaten the extinction of the Willamette Valley's wild winter steelhead runs, the Steller's pose an even greater vexation for sturgeon managers.

Oregon and Washington have permits to control California sea lions, but not the larger Steller's.

Shaun Clements, senior policy analyst for the

, said permits could be obtained for Steller's, but the law requires proof of their impact on salmon and steelhead, not sturgeon.

Changes to the Marine Mammal Protection Act making their way through Congress would change that and also broaden the area where Oregon could euthanize California sea lions, but while he's cautiously optimistic, Clements said the bills appear to be a month or so out from action in the Senate and House of Representatives.

"We may look at relocating Steller's for temporary relief," Clements said, adding they would likely be taken to the southern Oregon Coast.

Transporting sea lions in the past has rarely kept them from returning, but Clements said "even four or five days might be worth it."

Meanwhile, biologists are preparing to trap and brand California sea lions below the falls.

Legislation supporters got a boost Wednesday when federal fisheries officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Further, scientists said removal of animals such as that allowed on the lower Columbia River and proposed for the Willamette River "is unlikely to affect the population as a whole."

Speaking of sturgeon:

Most of the right numbers suggest a repeat of last year's limited sturgeon-retention fishing in the lower Columbia.

How much, how long, how many and where - perhaps including the lower Willamette River - will be decided some time after fish and wildlife commissions in Oregon and Washington hear scientific status reviews and issue some policy direction in early February.

Tucker Jones, Columbia River program manager for the

, is still working on his pitch to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission when it meets in Portland Feb. 9, but is largely encouraged by the indicators.

"It will be up to the commission whether we open any sturgeon fisheries," he cautioned. "There are some positives. The adult number continues to increase and the bump we saw last year is real."

Some down sides include a continued relatively low number of juvenile fish moving into and through the size windows and the continued attention of Steller's sea lions, especially on larger spawning sturgeon.

Jones said no coastal retention fishing will likely be considered in the short term, but retention is still allowed above Willamette Falls and in both reservoirs behind Bonneville and John Day dams.

Retention fishing closed Friday evening between The Dalles and John Day dams.

(The smelt outlook, also coming up Feb. 9 at the Sheraton Inn commission meeting, remains depressed. It's unknown whether any sport dipping will be allowed in the Cowlitz River and only limited commercial dipping will likely occur and that only to collect biological information.)

Speaking of Salmon:

Once sturgeon policies are set by the commission, Jones' team will begin working on spring chinook outlooks.

Look for a preliminary rollout of potential seasons in mid-February and decisions at a Feb. 21 meeting of the Columbia River Compact.

Willamette River seasons aren't likely to change and there should be enough fish available for Columbia River seasons.

However, the Cowlitz spring chinook prediction is depressed enough there are almost certain restrictions in store from Longview downriver.

Outdoor show tease:

The

Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show, appearing Feb. 7-11 at the Portland Expo Center.

Gerber, a Portland-based multi-tool company, will roll out a

at the show.

They include devices for fish processing, line management, tethering, shearing and line cutting

The collection is online on the

, gerberfishing.com.

- Bill Monroe