Commercial fishers will begin testing the Columbia River mainstem’s waters Monday night, the first of three 12-hour fishing periods targeting sturgeon and early arriving fall chinook salmon approved this week by the Columbia River Compact.

The Oregon/Washington Compact, which sets mainstem commercial seasons, started the non-Indian commercial fleet’s fall season off fisheries from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Aug. 4, 6 and 11.