Cowlitz, Lewis to offer spring chinook fishing

VANCOUVER--Spring will offer sport fishing opportunities for chinook in the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers but the Kalama River will remain closed through July 31, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today.

The fishing decisions follow a March 2 public meeting to discuss fishing opportunities for the Columbia River tributaries.

Here are the details:

• Cowlitz River: remains open for spring chinook fishing for the first time since 1994. The open area is from the mouth to the barrier dam with a one-fish daily limit and five-fish season limit from April 1 through July 31. The north shore from Mill Creek to the barrier dam will be open for bank fishing only while the south shore of that section will close to all angling April 1 through June 15

• Lewis River (including the north fork): opens April 1 through July 31 from the mouth upstream to Colvin Creek. There is a one-fish daily limit and five-fish season limit. The area between Johnson and Colvin creeks is open to bank fishing only. The area from Colvin Creek to the deadline below Merwin Dam will close to all angling April 1 through June 15. It will be closed for salmon fishing through July 31
• Kalama River: closes to salmon fishing at 12:01 a.m. April 1 through July 31 because no harvestable surplus of fish is expected
• Deep River: open from June 1 through July 31 from the mouth to the (Deep River) town bridge for jacks (chinook 12 to 24 inches) with a six-jack daily limit
• Green River: open April 1 through July 31 from the mouth to 400 feet below the hatchery water intake with a six fish daily limit, of which two may be adults. On June 1 the river will open to the 2800 road bridge for salmon and hatchery steelhead