SW WA Fishing Report

(JOE HYMER, PACIFIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSION; KALAMA RIVER INFORMATION FROM CHRIS WAGEMAN, WDFW)

SALMON/STEELHEAD

Cowlitz River – No report on angling success is currently available.  Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 702 coho adults, 18 jacks and 157 winter-run steelhead during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. During the week Tacoma Power employees released 55 coho adults, two jacks and eight winter-run steelhead into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton and 462 coho adults, 13 jacks and nine winter-run steelhead into Lake Scanewa, behind Cowlitz Falls Dam.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 12,000 cubic feet per second on Monday, January 11.

The Kalama River winter runs had been about 50% of the last 8 year average. To date, I have handled about 600 hatchery and 70 wild winter fish. The majority of these hatchery fish have been recycled to the lower river for additional recreational opportunities.

Fishing was good during the early part of December and has been off and on since then, mostly due to high turbid flow.

Best catch rates are currently at the deadline in the canyon, however if the river drops this week expect boat success to rise.

There was a lot of boat traffic this past weekend with minimal success.

The canyon produced a few fish and angler effort was high.

The early hatchery fish are still showing in good numbers, with nearly 300 fish worked last week and only about 60 worked today.

The winter brood hatchery fish are starting to show and I expect a stellar return these next few months.

Kress Lake will start to receive surplus hatchery steelhead from the Kalama starting next week.

Lewis River – No report on angling success.  Flows below Merwin Dam were 6,500 cfs today, about half of last week’s high.

The Dalles Pool – Light effort and catch observed last week.

John Day Pool – Bank anglers are catching some steelhead.

STURGEON

Lower Columbia from the Wauna powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam – 2 boats/4 anglers in the Longview area had released 5 sublegals.  2 boats/4 anglers in the Vancouver area had no catch as did 4 bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam.

Bonneville Pool – No catch was observed.

The Dalles Pool – Bank and boat anglers were catching some legals.

John Day Pool – Light effort and no catch was observed.

WALLEYE AND BASS

The Dalles and John Day pools – Light effort and no catch was observed.

TROUT

Recent plants of rainbows include:

Horseshoe Lake in Woodland – 3,027 catchables and 20 brood stock averaging 8 pounds each Jan. 5;

Battleground Lake – 3,001 catchables Jan 6;

Kidney Lake near North Bonneville – 45 brood stock averaging 4 pounds each and 23 averaging 8 pounds each Jan. 4;

Icehouse Lake near Bridge of the Gods – 31 brood stock averaging 4 pounds each and 16 averaging 8 pounds each Jan. 4;

Little Ash Lake in Stevenson – 31 brood stock averaging 4 pounds each and 16 averaging 8 pounds each Jan. 4;

Tunnel Lake (just east of Drano Lake) – 30 brood stock averaging 4 pounds each and 16 averaging 8 pounds each Jan. 4;

Northwestern Reservoir (on the White Salmon River) – 30 brood stock averaging 4 pounds each and 16 averaging 8 pounds each Jan. 4

SMELT

Washington lower Columbia tributaries – A decision is expected to be made this week whether any fisheries will take place this year.