Columbia/Cowlitz Smelt Updates
January 24, 2008

Fishing Rule Updates are available by calling (360) 696-6211 *1010 Here are some web sites that provide daily river data: Cowlitz River water flow and levels: USGS Web site Columbia River estuary water temperature: CORIE Web site

Conditions:

Commercial landings in the Columbia River have dropped significantly from last week. There were no reports of smelt being dipped by sport fishers last weekend. Wednesday, January 23rd, WDFW survey crews only observed a couple of seals in the Columbia River down by County Line Park, none in the Cowlitz River. Only a few birds were seen.

The flow at Castle Rock is at 12,700 CFS. The water temperature has dropped to 39ºF in the Cowlitz River and 38ºF in the Columbia River. Smelt prefer water of at least 40ºF or warmer.

Sport fishing prospects for this coming weekend don’t look promising.

Catches:

Columbia River:

Commercial:

• 44 lbs landed Monday, January 21st from around Puget Island (about a 20th of the daily landings last week).
• 2,003 lbs cumulative landings since late-December. Preliminary numbers.

Cowlitz River:

Sport:

• WDFW test dipping on Wednesday, January 23rd, produced no catch. Areas sampled were Gearhart, Kelso Bridge, Carnival Market, and Lexington. There were no reliable reports of smelt being caught on Saturday, January 19th.

Commercial:

• No commercial landings reported for January 20th and 24th.
• 0 lbs cumulative since January 2nd.

Sport Seasons/Regulations:

Tributaries - Sport dipping is only allowed on the Cowlitz River, from 6 AM to 10 PM Saturdays through March 31st. The daily limit is 10 lbs per person per day. This is equivocal to ¼ of a 5 gallon bucket.

Mainstem Columbia River - daily limit is 25 lbs per person per day and the fishery is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Commercial Seasons:

Columbia River – 9 hour periods Mondays and Thursdays.

Cowlitz River – 6 hour periods Sunday and Wednesday nights.