WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
May 8, 2005
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Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Fishing success is low despite high numbers of fish returning to the salmon hatchery. Through May 4, a total of 1,802 adult and 53 jack hatchery and 28 adult unmarked spring chinook had returned to the facility.
Kalama River - Boat anglers averaged a spring chinook per every 2.5 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 12 rods when including fish released. Through May 4, a total of 260 adult hatchery and 43 adult unmarked spring chinook had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery.
Lewis River - Including fish released, boaters averaged better than a spring chinook per every 3 anglers while bankies averaged slightly less than one per every 4 anglers. Spring chinook are being caught around the salmon hatchery and near the mouth. Summer run steelhead are also being caught in the lower river.
Through May 4, a total of 247 adult and 16 jack hatchery spring chinook and 38 adult and 1 jack unmarked fish had returned to the trap at Merwin Dam.
Wind River - Boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 5.7 rods. Bank anglers at the mouth and in the gorge were also catching a few fish. The first spring chinook of the season had returned to Carson National Fish Hatchery as of May 8.
Drano Lake - Boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 3 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 6 rods.
White Salmon River - Some spring chinook are being caught by bank anglers at the mouth.
Klickitat River - Fishing is improving with a chinook per every 4.4 bank anglers below the Fisher Hill Bridge.
Lower Columbia from the I-5 Bridge downstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line - Scheduled to reopen to fishing for trout (including hatchery steelhead) Monday May 16. It will remained closed to fishing for salmon.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - No report on angling success is currently available. Effort is increasing. A total of 333 boats were counted during the Saturday May 7 flight. Almost half the boats were found in the gorge.
The area from Buoy 10 upstream to the Wauna powerlines near Cathlamet will re-open for retention beginning Saturday May 14. The minimum size will be 45 inches.
Bonneville Pool - Bank anglers are catching some legals; slow for legal sized fish from boats. Through April, an estimated 387 (55%) of the 700 fish guideline had been taken.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers are catching some legals; slow for legal sized fish for bank anglers. An estimated 163 (41%) of the 400 fish guideline had been taken through April.
John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish. Through April, an estimated 74 (45%) of the 165 fish guideline had been taken.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers released over 8 bass per rod. Bank anglers were also catching some fish. No effort was observed for walleye.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers averaged 8 bass per rod when including fish released. No walleye catch was observed.
John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged nearly 6 bass and a walleye per rod. Bank anglers averaged 3 bass per rod.
Trout -
Lakes planted with trout during the week of April 25-May 1:
Fargher Pond north of Battleground - 1,500 half-pound browns;
Sacajawea Lake in Longview - 4,000 rainbows averaging 2/3 pound each;
Horsethief Lake near Dallesport - 16,200 catchable size rainbows and 75 fish averaging 9 pounds each
Shad -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Scheduled to re-open to fishing Monday May 16. A total of 65 shad have been counted at Bonneville Dam through yesterday (May 8).