WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
August 6, 2007

Latest Southwest Washington Sport Sampling Summaries [PDF Format]

Salmon/Steelhead

Cowlitz River - Steelhead are being caught by bank and boat anglers near Blue Creek.

Last week Tacoma Power recovered 73 spring chinook adults, 19 jacks, 184 mini-jacks, 118 summer-run steelhead, three cutthroat trout and one sockeye salmon at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator during five days of operations.

Tacoma Power employees transported four spring chinook adults and nine jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at the Lake Scanewa Day Use Park last week. In addition, they released 165 spring chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees released three cutthroat trout into the Tilton River.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 2,510 cubic feet per second on Monday, August 6. The water visibility is over six feet.

Wind River - Not much going on here yet.

Drano Lake - Bank and boat anglers are catching summer run steelhead. Some chinook are also being caught.

White Salmon River - Bank anglers averaged about a steelhead per every other rod when including fish released. Some chinook are also being caught. Effort continues to increase with 40 watercraft here last Saturday (Aug. 4) am.

Klickitat River - River was clearing. However, no effort was observed on the lower river.

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - From Aug. 1-5 we sampled 428 salmonid anglers with 3 adult and 1 jack fall chinook, 100 steelhead, and 1 cutthroat. Bank anglers averaged a steelhead per every 4 rods while boat anglers averaged one per every 5 rods. Best success was found in the gorge although fish are being caught throughout the river. Overall, 62% of the steelhead caught were kept.

Through August 5, over 100,000 steelhead had been counted at Bonneville Dam. On Saturday Aug. 4, over 7,800 steelhead were counted at the dam, the highest single daily count since 2002. Nearly 1/3 of the fish counted through yesterday (August 5) had crossed the dam during the first five days of August.

Sturgeon

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Light effort during the catch and release only fishery.

Note: A Compact/Joint State Hearing is scheduled for 10 am on Wednesday August 15 to consider additional recreation sturgeon fishing opportunity in the area above the Wauna power lines. It will be held at the Clark County Commissioners' Office hearing room on the 6th floor of the Public Service Center Building at 1300 Franklin Street in Vancouver.

Walleye and Bass

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Light effort for walleye.

Trout and warm water species

Swofford Pond - Some bluegills, perch, and a few rainbows are being caught.

Mayfield Lake - Bank anglers are catching some rainbows.

Riffe Lake - Bank anglers are catching a few salmonids but generally slow overall