WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
April 24, 2005
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Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Anglers are catching some spring chinook and late winter run steelhead. Through April 20, a total of 525 adult and 5 jack hatchery plus 6 wild adult spring chinook had returned to the salmon hatchery. The total to-date is the highest since 1992.
Based on coded-wire tag recoveries from the mainstem Columbia sport fishery before it closed, Cowlitz origin spring chinook were being caught as far upstream as Vancouver.
During the past week, Tacoma Power and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees recovered 599 spring chinook adults, seven jacks and 175 steelhead during five days of separator operations at Tacoma Power’s Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
Tacoma Power employees released 511 spring chinook adults and 46 steelhead into the upper Cowlitz River at the Lake Scanewa Day Use area above Cowlitz Falls Dam during the week.
During the week Tacoma Power employees recycled three steelhead adults downstream to the Barrier Dam boat launch. A total of 119 late winter-run steelhead were transported to the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery for brood stock.
Tacoma Power employees released 14 steelhead into the Tilton River at the Gust Backstrom Park in Morton, Washington during the week.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are currently at 3,460 cubic feet per second on Monday, April 25. Flows will be increased for a 12-hour daylight period during the day on Tuesday, April 26 for downstream juvenile fish migration. Flows will be reduced to 3,400 cubic feet per second on Wednesday, April 27.
Kalama River - Anglers are catching some spring chinook and steelhead. Some coded wire tagged Kalama spring chinook were also recovered in the mainstem Columbia sport fishery upstream from the Kalama.
East Fork Lewis from mouth to top boat ramp at Lewisville Park and Washougal River from mouth to Mt. Norway Bridge at Vernon Road - Open to fishing for hatchery steelhead. No report on angling success. Selective gear rules are in effect through May 31.
Lewis River - Anglers are catching spring chinook and summer run steelhead, primarily near the salmon hatchery and at the mouth of the river. Nearly 1/3 of the spring chinook caught were unclipped fish.
Wind River - Catch and effort is beginning to build. 35-40 boats counted each day last weekend. A few fish reported caught in the canyon. About a dozen spring chinook were found in the Shipherd Falls Trap on Saturday.
The river from 100 feet above Shipherd Falls to markers approximately one-half mile below Carson National Fish Hatchery (except the closed area around the coffer dam) will be open to fishing for spring chinook and hatchery steelhead May 1-June 30.
Drano Lake - Spring chinook catches are increasing. Both bank and boat anglers are catching fish. Anglers are reminded the lake is closed to all fishing on Wednesdays through May.White Salmon River - Some fish reported caught at the mouth although no fish were sampled there.
Klickitat River - No fish were sampled although a spring chinook was found at the #5 Fishway trap. The river from 400 feet upstream from #5 Fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon Hatchery will be open to fishing for chinook and hatchery steelhead 7 days per week May 1-31.
Mainstem Columbia - The next weekly update will occur by telephone on Wednesday April 27, 2005 at 11:30 AM.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Catches are improving for bank and boat anglers in the gorge. Anglers are reminded all sturgeon fishing is closed from Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam May 1-July 31. In addition, the mainstem Columbia and its tributaries from the Wauna powerlines downstream to Buoy 10 is catch and release only from May 1-13.
Bonneville and The Dalles pools - Boat anglers are catching some legals. Slow for legals from the bank.
John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish.
Walleye and Bass
Bonneville Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged 7.7 bass per rod. Bank anglers were also catching some fish. No effort was found for walleye.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers averaged nearly 6 bass and a 0.4 walleye per rod when including fish released.
John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged nearly 7 bass and 0.7 walleye per rod. No bank angling effort was observed.
Trout -
Klineline Pond - Bank anglers averaged over 2 catchable to triploid sized rainbows per rod.