WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
May 16, 2006
 |
Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Catch and effort remains generally light. Through May 10, a total of 621 hatchery adult spring chinook had returned to the salmon hatchery. At the same point last year, 2,200 fish had returned. (See attached file for latest Columbia River tributaries adult spring chinook updates).
During the past week Tacoma Power’s Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator recovered 157 adult spring chinook salmon, 26 jacks, 76 winter-run steelhead adults and 16 summer-run steelhead adults during three days of separator operations. Tacoma Power employees released 44 spring chinook adults, 17 jacks and 60 adult steelhead into the Cowlitz River at the Day Use Park on Lake Scanewa. In addition, they released eleven adult steelhead into the Cispus River, above the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek during the week. A total of five adult steelhead were released into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton, Washington during the week. Tacoma Power employees recycled 16 summer-run steelhead downstream to the Massey Bar boat launch on the lower Cowlitz River during the week.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 5,110 cubic feet per second on Monday, May 15. Water visibility is over nine feet.
Kalama River - Boat and bank anglers averaged a chinook kept per every 3 and 5 rods, respectively. Catches are spread out from the mouth to the deadline below the upper salmon hatchery. River flow is dropping.
A total of 52 hatchery adult spring chinook had returned through May 10. In comparison, 500 fish had returned by the same time last year.
Lewis River - Boat anglers at the mouth and in the North Fork averaged a chinook kept per every 3 rods. Some fish are being caught off the bank near the salmon hatchery.
A total of 740 hatchery adult spring chinook had returned to the trap at Merwin Dam through May 10. Last year, 550 fish had been handled through the same period. The updated hatchery escapement goal is 950 fish.
Wind River - Boat anglers averaged a chinook kept per every 3 rods. Bank anglers at the mouth and in the gorge are also catching some fish.
No fish had returned to Carson National Fish Hatchery through May 11. Based on PIT tag (Passive Integrated Transponder Tags) detected at Bonneville Dam, an estimated 3,300 Wind River fish had crossed the dam by May 9. For more information about PIT tags, please visit http://www.psmfc.org/files/Project%20Summaries/PTAGIS.pdf.
Drano Lake - Boat anglers averaged better than a fish per every other rod. Bank anglers are also catching some fish. Some fish are beginning to darken.
Through May 11, a total of 1,319 spring chinook had returned to Little White Salmon National Fish Hatchery. The hatchery escapement goal is 1,500 fish.
White Salmon River - Some spring chinook are being caught by bank anglers.
Klickitat River - Spring chinook catch is improving. Bank anglers below the Fisher Hill Bridge averaged nearly a chinook per every other rod.
A total of 44 fish had been counted at the Lyle Falls fishway trap (just upstream from the Fisher Hill Bridge) by May 10. Fish are also able to jump the falls.
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) today updated the upriver spring chinook run size to 100,000 fish. The pre-season forecast was 88,400 fish. It's possible the lower Columbia mainstem could re-open to retention of hatchery adult chinook. The states of Washington and Oregon are currently meeting. Stay tuned.
Bonneville Pool - Bank anglers caught some hatchery spring chinook.
The Dalles Pool - Bank and boat anglers averaged over ½ to nearly a fish kept per rod, respectively.
John Day Pool - The few boat anglers sampled averaged about ½ chinook kept per rod. Bank anglers were also catching some fish.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Fishing was slow out of the Deep River ramp this weekend. Approximately 80 private boats and six charters were counted in the estuary with most found near Tongue Point and Baker Bay. Some legals continue to be caught below the deadline at Marker #85, located about 6 miles downstream from Bonneville Dam.
Bonneville Pool - Bank anglers are catching a few legals.
John Day Pool - Boat anglers are catching some legals.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers averaged over 3.5 bass kept/released per rod. No effort was observed for walleye.
John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged over 8 bass and a walleye per rod.
Trout -
Recent plants of catchable size rainbows up to a half-pound each -
- Mayfield Lake - 5,965 fish from the net pens on May 5
- Mineral Lake - 3,920 fish on May 9
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