Southwest Washington (Region 5) fishing hotline

The following is a brief summary of emergency sport fishing regulations for the mainstem Columbia River and tributaries downstream of McNary Dam. Emergency rules listed below reflect emergency changes to respective permanent rule listed in the current Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet. All other permanent rules listed in the pamphlet apply. Including minimum size, barbless hook, night closure and anti-snagging rule.

Friday March 3, 2023

Salmon and Steelhead

Mainstem Columbia River - Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam

Buoy 10 upstream to Beacon Rock: Immediately through April 7, 2023: Open to boat and bank angling. Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook. Shad retention allowed. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
Beacon Rock upstream to the Bonneville Dam deadline: Immediately through April 7, 2023: Bank angling with hand-cast lines only. Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook. Shad retention allowed. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.

Mainstem Columbia River - Bonneville Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco

Bonneville Dam upstream to the Tower Island power lines: Immediately through March 31, 2023: Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead.
- Effective March 16 through May 6, 2023: Fishing from a vessel is prohibited; bank angling with hand-cast lines only.
  - Effective April 1 through May 6, 2023: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
Tower Island power lines upstream to The Dalles Dam: Immediately through March 31, 2023: Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead.
- Effective April 1 through May 6, 2023: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
From a line starting from a fishing boundary sign on the Washington north shore located approx. 1300’ upstream of the Dalles Dam and Lock boat ramp projected easterly across the Columbia River to a boundary sign on the Washington southern shore located approx. 200’ above the fish ladder exit upstream to Hwy. 730 at the Washington/Oregon border: Immediately through March 31, 2023: Closed to angling for and retention of salmon and steelhead.
- Effective April 1 through May 6, 2023: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.

Columbia River Tributaries - Below Bonneville Dam and southwest Washington lakes

Due to the continued spread of COVID-19, the Cowlitz Trout and Cowlitz Salmon hatcheries remain closed to public access.

Deep River: Immediately through April 7, 2023: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
Cowlitz River: Effective January 12, the posted fishing boundary markers will be located at the 400 foot distance below the Barrier Dam.
Salmon Creek: Effective March 16 through May 26, 2023, from the mouth to the 182nd Avenue Bridge: Hatchery steelhead: Daily limit 3. Selective Gear Rules in effect, except use of barbed hooks is allowed.

Columbia River Tributaries between Bonneville and McNary Dams

Wind River: Effective March 16, 2023 until further notice, from the mouth to 800 yards downstream of Carson National Fish Hatchery: Salmon and hatchery steelhead: Daily limit 6. Up to 1 adult salmon and 1 hatchery steelhead or up to 2 hatchery steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
Klickitat River: From the mouth to Fisher Hill Bridge: effective April 1 through May 26, 2023: Salmon and hatchery steelhead: Daily limit 2, of which up to 1 may be an adult salmon. Release wild Chinook. Open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays only.
- Beginning May 27, 2023 until further notice: Salmon: Daily limit 6, of which up to 1 may be an adult. Release wild Chinook.
Klickitat River: from 400 feet upstream of #5 fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon Hatchery: Effective May 27, 2023 until further notice, Salmon: closed.

Current weir statuses for Columbia River Tributary Weirs:

This section will provide operational status of the resistance board weirs run in Southwest WA. Additional information for these and other weirs will be available in the coming weeks.

Current status as of December 30, 2022.

Grays River Weir - located upstream of the Highway 4 bridge ~.3 miles. Uninstalled.
Kalama River Weir - located at the Modrow Trap facility. Uninstalled.
Washougal River Weir - located at the Fords Game Access Site. Uninstalled.
Green River Weir - located at the North Toutle Hatchery. Uninstalled.
Elochoman River Weir - located upstream of the Foster Road bridge ~.5 miles. Uninstalled.
Cedar Creek Weir – located 0.25 mile from the mouth with the NF Lewis. Uninstalled.
Coweeman River Weir – located at river mile 6.8 near the end of Allen Street in Kelso. Uninstalled.

Sturgeon and Smelt

Sturgeon

Statewide permanent rules:

Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed.
Sturgeon sanctuaries go into effect May 1 through August 31.
During a retention period: Daily limit 1 fish, annual limit 2 fish.
Oversize sturgeon, greater than 55” fork length, may not be removed totally or partially from the water.
Retention of Green Sturgeon is prohibited.

Columbia River, from Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam, including adjacent tributaries:

Columbia River, from Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam: Open for catch and release fishing only.

Sturgeon catch reports are updated regularly and can be found online at www.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/creel/sturgeon

Eulachon

All areas: Closed to fishing and harvest.

Additional information regarding Cowlitz River Smelt fishing can be found online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/smelt