WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
May 29, 2005
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Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Remains slow for spring chinook and steelhead. Flows have increased (5,570 cfs today) although still below the long term mean of 7,500 cfs.
Kalama and Lewis rivers - Both rivers are producing some spring chinook and steelhead. Flows on the North Fork Lewis River were 2,910 cfs this morning, somewhat higher but still below the 4,216 cfs long term mean for this date.
East Fork Lewis River from 400 feet below Horseshoe Falls (except for closures around lower falls) and Washougal River from Salmon Falls Bridge downstream to the mouth - Bait may be used to fish for hatchery steelhead effective June 1. Through May 25, a total of 90 summer run steelhead had returned to Skamania Hatchery on the West (North) fork of the Washougal River.
Wind River - Light effort; spurts of spring chinook are moving through the river. Through May 30, a total of 455 spring chinook had returned to Carson National Fish Hatchery.
Klickitat River - Spring chinook are being caught. Effective June 1, the section from 400 feet upstream from #5 fishway upstream to the boundary markers below the salmon hatchery reverts back to permanent rules for salmon - 6 jacks only, no adults. In addition, the river from the mouth to the Fisher Hill Bridge will be open to fishing 7 days per week. The salmon daily limit for that section will be 6 salmon, no more than 2 adults.
Lower Columbia from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the I-5 Bridge - Hatchery summer run steelhead and some chinook jacks are being caught from Longview downstream.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia from Buoy 10 to the Wauna powerlines - Deep River boat anglers last Saturday (May 28) averaged slightly better than a legal per every 5 rods. The previous week (May 16-22), Ilwaco charter boat anglers also averaged slightly better than a legal per every 5 rods. Private boat anglers at the ports of Chinook and Ilwaco averaged a legal per every 12 rods during the same period.
Lower Columbia from the Wauna powerlines to Beacon Rock - Some legals are being caught by boat anglers in the Longview area.
Bonneville Pool - Bank and boat anglers averaged a legal kept/released per about every 7 rods.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers are catching some legals. Slow for legal sized fish from the bank.
John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish.
Ports of Chinook and Ilwaco sturgeon sport sampling summaries and estuary effort count for May 23-29- Charter boat anglers averaged 0.44 legals per rod while private boaters averaged slightly better than a legal per every 7 rods. The charter boat catch rate is slightly less than the same period in 2004 while the private boat average is nearly the same.
During the Saturday May 28, 2005 flight, 359 private boats and 18 charters fishing for sturgeon were counted from Buoy 10 to the Wauna powerlines. The count is identical to the same time last year.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers averaged nearly 5 bass kept/released per rod. Bank anglers were also catching some fish. No effort observed for walleye.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers averaged over 4 bass and nearly a walleye per rod when including fish released. Bank anglers were also catching some bass and walleye.
John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged over 3 bass and nearly 2 walleye per rod. Little or no effort observed from the bank.
Trout -
Klineline Pond - Bank anglers are catching some rainbows.
Rainbows planted into Southwest Washington lakes since May 20:
- Battleground Lake - 4,000 fish averaging nearly 3/4 pound each;
- Mayfield Lake - 5,670 fish averaging ½ pound each (released from the net pens);
- Mineral Lake - 4,305 catchables;
- Takhlakh Lake in Skamania County - 2,000 catchables
Shad -
Lower Columbia - Bank anglers in the Longview area are catching some fish. No reports for the Camas/Washougal and Bonneville areas.
Yesterday (May 30), over 47,000 shad were counted at Bonneville Dam. Through May 30, over a quarter million shad had been counted at Bonneville and over one-half million at The Dalles Dam.