WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
July 26 - August 1, 2004

Salmon/Steelhead -

Grays (including West Fork) and Elochoman rivers - No report on angling success. Saturday July 31 is the last day to fish for hatchery spring chinook.

Kalama River - No report on angling success. New for fall 2004 - Closed waters around the temporary rack (when installed in the river) has been increased upstream to the Modrow Bridge. It had been 200' above the rack. The lower boundary still remains 1,500' below the rack.

Cowlitz, Deep, Green, Kalama, Lewis (including North Fork) rivers - Any chinook may be kept effective August 1. Chum and wild coho must be released.

Toutle River (including North Fork) and Washougal rivers - Opens to fishing for fall chinook and hatchery coho beginning August 1. Chum and wild coho must be released.

Wind River from mouth to 400' below Shipherd Falls - No report on angling success. Opens to fishing for salmon August 1. Non-buoyant lure restriction will be in effect.

Drano Lake - Producing summer run steelhead for bank and boat anglers. About 45 boats were counted there Saturday morning (July 24); however the boat ramp will not be open until this Friday July 30, a couple days earlier than scheduled (Skamania County Department of Public Works).

Fishing for chinook and coho opens August 1. Non-buoyant lure restriction will be in effect.

White Salmon River - Producing summer run steelhead and some summer chinook. 38 boats/float tubes counted here Saturday July 24. Non-buoyant lure restriction will be in effect August 1.

Klickitat River - Muddy last week. Non-buoyant lure restriction in effect from Fisher Hill Bridge downstream effective August 1.

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged a steelhead per every 3 rods while bank anglers averaged one per about 7 rods last week. Best catches remain from Kalama downstream.

Effective August 1, the salmon daily limit will be 6 fish, no more than 2 adults of which no more than 1 may be an adult chinook. Chinook with or without an adipose fin may be retained. Chum and wild coho must be released.

Bonneville Dam upstream to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco - No report on angling success. Effective August 1, any chinook and coho may be kept whether fin clipped or not. In Bonneville Pool, night closure and non-buoyant lure restriction will be in effect for all species.

Sturgeon -

Lower Columbia from Beacon Rock downstream to the Wauna power lines- Not much effort or catch. From August through September, all sturgeon must be released 7 days/week.

Walleye and Bass -

Riffe Lake - Producing smallmouth bass. A 4.4 pound fish just over 20" long was checked during a bass tournament on Saturday (July 24). Not much going on for other species.

Trout -

Swofford Pond - Producing some rainbows.

Mayfield Lake - Hardly any anglers - lots of pleasure boats.

Buoy 10 report for opening day
Contributed by Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife -

Columbia River: On August 1, a total of 367 Oregon angler trips yielded an estimated 20 chinook and 13 adipose fin-clipped coho.

Salmon, Steelhead, and Shad: The following modifications to the mainstem Columbia River salmon, steelhead, and shad fishery from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam are now in effect:

Please consult the 2004 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations pamphlet [PDF version] for further information regarding the Columbia River Zone.

Buoy 10 Line Upstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point Line: Effective August 1 through December 31, 2004 this section of the Columbia River is open to angling for adult chinook salmon (> 24 inches), adipose fin-clipped adult coho salmon (> 16 inches), adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad. The daily bag limit is two fish, only one of which may be a chinook. Each angler aboard a vessel may continue to use angling gear until the daily bag limit of fish for all legally licensed and juvenile anglers has been achieved; however, no individual angler may exceed any personal daily bag limit.

The Rocky Point/Tongue Point Line Upstream to Bonneville Dam: Effective August 1 through December 31, this section of the Columbia River is open to angling for fall chinook, adipose fin-clipped coho, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad. This section will also remain open to the retention of sockeye salmon through September 30, 2004. Effective September 1 through September 30, angling from Big Creek railroad trestle bridge near mouth is prohibited. The daily bag limit is two adult salmonids, only one of which may be an adult chinook salmon, and five jack salmon. The retention of chum salmon is prohibited

Bonnevile Dam Upstream to the Oregon/Washington Border above McNary Dam: Effective August 1 through December 31, this section of the Columbia River is open to angling for fall chinook, coho, adipose fin-clipped steelhead, and shad. This section will also remain open to the retention of sockeye salmon through September 30, 2004. The daily bag limit is two adult salmonids and five jack salmon. The retention of chum salmon is prohibited.

Oregon Buoy 10 boat anglers averaged 0.05 chinook and 0.04 coho caught per rod. In the Portland to Longview area the greatest concentrations of salmon angler effort occurred at the mouth of the Cowlitz River where boat anglers averaged 0.08 chinook and 1.40 steelhead caught per boat and in the St. Helens area where boat anglers averaged 0.18 chinook and 0.18 steelhead caught per boat. In the Troutdale area boat anglers averaged 0.01 chinook and 0.06 steelhead caught per boat, while in the gorge anglers averaged 1.00 chinook caught per boat. The greatest concentration of bank angler effort occurred in the gorge where anglers averaged 0.14 steelhead caught per rod, while anglers in the Portland to Longview areas averaged 0.04 chinook and 0.26 steelhead caught per rod.

Estuary Boats: On August 1, a total of 367 Oregon angler trips yielded an estimated 20 chinook and 13 adipose fin-clipped coho.

Estuary Bank: Weekend checking showed 12 adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus 8 steelhead released for 18 bank rods (incomplete trips).

Portland to Longview Boats: Weekend checking showed seven chinook and 58 adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus one chinook and 19 steelhead released for 85 boats (incomplete & complete trips).

Portland to Longview Bank: Weekend checking showed three adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus one chinook jack, and three steelhead released for 23 rods (incomplete trips).

Troutdale Boats: Weekly checking showed one chinook and one adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus three steelhead released for 67 boats (completed trips).

Gorge Boats: Weekend checking showed one chinook kept for one boat (complete trip).

Gorge Bank: Weekend checking showed four adipose fin-clipped steelhead kept, plus six steelhead released for 71 bank rods (incomplete trips).

Bonneville Pool: No report.

The Dalles Pool: No report.

John Day Pool: No report.

Sturgeon:

Buoy 10 Upstream to Wauna Powerlines: The retention of sturgeon is prohibited through December 31, 2004 because the catch guideline of 15,000 legal white sturgeon has been reached. Catch and release fishing will be allowed throughout the remainder of the year.

Wauna Powerlines to Bonneville Dam: Effective August 1 through September 30, the retention of sturgeon is prohibited seven days per week. Catch and release fishing will be allowed during the retention closure. The following modifications for the mainstem Columbia River from the Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) upstream to Bonneville Dam, including all adjacent Washington tributaries and the Willamette River downstream of Willamette Falls (including Multnomah Channel), are currently in effect. The modifications include:

• Prohibit the retention of sturgeon seven days per week from Sunday August 1, 2004 through Thursday September 30, 2004.
• Allow retention of sturgeon three days per week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and prohibit retention of sturgeon four days per week on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday beginning Friday October 1, 2004 through Friday December 31, 2004.
• Catch and release of sturgeon may continue during sturgeon retention closures.
• Fishery will be managed for a 12,000 fish quota in this section of the Columbia River and specific retention dates may be adjusted to meet the quota.

Bonneville Dam Upstream to McNary Dam: In Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools the retention of sturgeon is prohibited through December 31, 2004 because the white sturgeon catch guidelines have been reached. Catch and release fishing will be allowed throughout the remainder of the year in all three pools.

Portland to Longview Boats: Closed to the retention of sturgeon. Weekend checking showed one legal white sturgeon kept, plus one oversize and 228 sublegals released for 62 boats.

Portland to Longview Bank: Closed to the retention of sturgeon. Weekend checking showed nine sublegals released for 24 bank rods.

Troutdale Boats: Closed to the retention of sturgeon. Weekend checking showed 165 sublegals released for 15 boats.

Gorge Boats: Closed to the retention of sturgeon. Weekend checking showed three legal white sturgeon kept, plus two legals, three oversize, and 184 sublegals released for 15 boats.

Gorge Bank: Closed to the retention of sturgeon. Weekend checking showed four legals and nine sublegals released for 22 bank rods.

Estuary Boat and Bank: Closed to the retention of sturgeon.

Bonneville Pool: Closed.

The Dalles Pool: Closed.

John Day Pool: Closed.

Walleye:

Troutdale Boats: Weekend checking showed 36 walleye kept for 22 boats (completed trips).

The Dalles Pool: No report.

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