WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
May 1, 2005
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Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Fishing is a little slow despite the good `numbers of spring chinook returning to the salmon hatchery. Including fish released, boat anglers averaged a spring chinook per every 10 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 32 rods. Summer run steelhead are also appearing in the catch and at the hatchery.
During the past week, Tacoma Power and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees recovered 672 spring chinook adults, 16 jacks and 73 steelhead during four days of separator operations at Tacoma Power’s Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
Tacoma Power employees released 534 spring chinook adults, eleven jacks and 23 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 45 late winter-run steelhead were transported to the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery for brood stock.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are currently at 3,450 cubic feet per second on Monday, May 2. Flows will be increased for a 12-hour daylight period during the day on Tuesday, May 3 for downstream juvenile fish migration. Flows will be reduced to 3,400 cubic feet per second on Wednesday, May 4. Water visibility at Mayfield Dam is 12 feet.
Kalama River - Boat anglers averaged a chinook kept/released per every 2.6 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 13.7 rods. Summer run steelhead are also appearing in the catch and at the hatchery.
Chris Wagemann, WDFW Fish Biologist, reported on April 28:
Totals are for the past two weeks: 306 wild, 42 hatchery winter-run, and 5 fresh hatchery summer steelhead and 21 hatchery spring Chinook handled at Kalama Falls Hatchery. Most hatchery fish (salmon and steelhead) were recycled to the lower river (Beginner's Hole Pool boat ramp); however 21 steelhead were planted in Kress Lake on April 22.
Lewis River - Boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 3.7 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 5.5 rods when including fish released. Some summer run steelhead are also appearing in the catch and at the Merwin Dam trap. Through April 27, a total of 60 adult and 5 jack hatchery and 7 adult wild chinook plus 58 hatchery and 1 wild summer run steelhead had returned to the Merwin Dam trap.
Wind River - Boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 3.7 rods. About 180 boats here last Saturday (April 30). A few fish are being caught in the gorge. Between 3-30 spring chinook per day are being handled at the Shipherd Falls trap.
Drano Lake - Boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 5.8 rods. Bank anglers were also catching some fish periodically.
White Salmon and Klickitat rivers - No fish were sampled but some fish are being reported caught periodically.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers in the gorge averaged 0.8 legals kept/released per rod while bank anglers averaged one per every 5 rods. The section from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam is now closed to fishing for sturgeon through July. Light effort and catch on the rest of the river downstream to Longview.
Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools - Slow for legal sized fish.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Including fish released, bank and boat anglers averaged 3.3 and 2.4 bass per rod, respectively. Light effort and no catch observed for walleye.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers averaged over 16 bass kept/released per rod while bank anglers averaged 2.5 per rod. Light effort and no catch observed for walleye.
John Day Pool - Boat anglers averaged nearly 7 bass and slightly less than ½ walleye per rod when including fish kept/released. Bank anglers were also catching some bass.
Trout -
Klineline Pond - Including fish released, bank anglers averaged nearly 2 rainbows per rod. One young angler landed a 6.5 to 7 pound rainbow. Planted with 4,064 catchable size rainbows on April 25.
Recent trout plants since April 21 -
- Battleground Lake - 7,000 rainbows averaging 2/3 pound each;
- Fargher Pond - 1,500 browns averaging slightly over ½ pound each;
- Lacamas Lake - 4,000 rainbows averaging nearly ½ pound each;
- Horseshoe Lake near Woodland - 11,374 catchable size rainbows and 2,839 catchable size browns;
- Kress Lake near Kalama - 4,400 catchable size rainbows and 3,400 catchable size browns;
- Sacajawea Lake in Longview - 4,000 rainbows averaging 2/3 pound each and 2,108 catchable size browns;
- Little Klickitat River - 900 catchable size rainbows;
- Rowland Lake near Lyle - 11,000 catchable size rainbows;
- Spearfish Lake near Dallesport - 6,009 catchable size rainbows;
- Fort Borst Park Pond near Centralia - 3,264 catchable size rainbows;
- Carlisle Lake near Onalaska - 713 catchable size rainbows;
- Davis Lake - 1,280 catchable size rainbows;
- Mayfield Lake - 14,400 catchable size browns;
- Siler Pond - 1,024 catchable size rainbows;
- Swofford Pond near Mossyrock - 3,720 catchable size browns;
- Icehouse Lake near Bridge of the Gods - 2,495 catchable size rainbows;
- Kidney Lake near North Bonneville - 4,000 rainbows averaging nearly ½ pound each;
- Little Ash Lake near Stevenson - 3,500 catchable size rainbows;
- Tunnel Lake (between Drano Lake and Underwood) - 4,485 catchable size rainbows