WDFW Sport Sampling Results: November 20, 2006 Latest Southwest Washington Sport Sampling Summaries [PDF Format] Salmon/Steelhead - Cowlitz River - Bank anglers near the deadline at the barrier dam continue to catch coho. Some hatchery fish have color while the wild fish (which have to be released) are reported to be bright. River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 14,400 cubic feet per second on Monday, November 20. Water visibility is less than 1 foot. During the past week Tacoma Power and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recovered 4,986 adult coho salmon, 337 coho jacks, 27 fall chinook adults, 134 summer-run steelhead, 18 winter-run steelhead and 25 cutthroat trout at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator during seven days of operations. A total of 235 summer-run steelhead, nine cutthroat trout and two winter-run steelhead were recycled to the Massey Bar and I-5 boat launches during the week. Blue and Mill Creeks (Lewis County, both tributaries to the Cowlitz River) - Open to fishing for hatchery steelhead beginning December 1. Blue Creek also opens for hatchery sea-run cutthroat. Check the regulation pamphlet for seasons, areas, restrictions, and daily limits. Tilton River - No report on angler success. Tacoma Power employees released 122 coho adults, six coho jacks, four fall chinook adults, five cutthroat trout and one winter-run steelhead into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton. Riffe Lake - No report on angling success. Tacoma Power employees released 527 coho adults and 35 coho jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park. 2,628 one pound sea run cutthroats were released November 13. Riffe Lake elevation is 751 feet on Monday, November 20. Lake Scanewa - No creel surveys were conducted last week due to flooding, high muddy water and Lake Scanewa Day Use Park closure. The park opened on Friday November 17 and the water has receded and started to clear. Sampling will resume this week. Tacoma Power employees released 2,370 coho adults and 169 jacks at the Day Use Park on Lake Scanewa. They transported 517 coho adults and 29 jacks to the Bud Allen Park boat launch on Lake Scanewa. Also, 786 coho adults and 50 coho jacks were released at the Franklin Bridge site in Packwood. Kalama River - Bank anglers continue to catch coho although a lot of dark fish are being released. Lewis River - Bank anglers continue to catch coho near the salmon hatchery although some dark fish are being released. Washougal River - No report on angling success. The first 5 winter steelhead of the season had returned to Skamania Hatchery by November 15. Klickitat River - Bank anglers continue to do well on coho. River has been muddy but dropping. High numbers of fish observed below the Fisher Hill Bridge. Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers continue to catch coho. Sturgeon - Lower Columbia from Wauna power lines to Bonneville Dam - Bank angling success just below Bonneville Dam dropped with the reduced flows. Bank anglers averaged a legal kept/released per every 5 rods based on mainly incomplete trips. Boat anglers in the gorge averaged nearly a legal per boat. Light effort and catch was from Camas/Washougal downstream. Trout - Klineline Pond - The few bank anglers sampled averaged over 5 brown trout kept/released per rod. The fish are from earlier plants and range from 12-14". Anglers are fishing in the swimming area and using biscuit dough for bait.