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Boat ramps busy despite social distancing guidelines

It's hard not to get out on the water during these beautiful spring days, but social distancing guidelines are still in place.

PORTLAND, Oregon — They're backing in the boats at Portland's Willamette Park. It's one of the open ramps around, and was busy on Friday morning. For many of these folks, it's all about the fishing.

"We’re salmon fishing. We’ve been out the last four days and got one each day," said Laura Remmen of Eagle Creek.

Standing nearby, you can see the coordinated moves of trucks and trailers, pulling in and out of the boat ramps. The ramps and docks are where social distancing can be tough to achieve. Dave Schaerer sees most people behaving.

"I think they’re keeping their distance pretty well, there’s always a handful of offenders but for the most part I think they’ve done a pretty darn good job," said Schaerer.

But the social distancing concern is real. So Washington state went all in, suspending the fishing season for now. And state controlled boat ramps are closed. 

Fishing is on in Oregon, but state parks are shut down, closing ramps and water access, too. And many cities and counties have closed their boat ramps for now.

"We’re trying to get in every day of fishing before they close the ramps, hopefully the ramps won’t get closed," said Ron Dilbeck as he and Schaerer launched from Willamette Park, where people are willing to risk getting too close on shore, to enjoy the wide open water.

"We've been keeping our distance on the boat and you know on this water we are sometimes many, many yards away from other people," said Schaerer, who landed an 18-pound Spring Chinook Salmon on Tuesday.

Again, in Washington state fishing is shut down for now.  And for any Washingtonians considering traveling to Oregon to fish (or shellfish or hunt), Oregon is banning non-residents starting at midnight Friday night.

RELATED: Want to get outside? Here's what's open and what's closed in Oregon

RELATED: ‘Please continue to stay home to save lives’: Officials plead for Oregonians to safely enjoy sunny weekend

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