Sport fishing opens for hatchery salmon on Kalama and Lewis rivers

OLYMPIA — Sport fishing for chinook and hatchery coho salmon in the Kalama River and fishing for hatchery coho in the Lewis River will open Friday (Sept. 25) until further notice, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has announced.

The Department will continue to review the status of the runs during the season to determine how long fishing can continue.

Hatchery fish have returned to Kalama and Lewis River hatcheries in sufficient numbers to allow the fishing opportunities. Portions of these rivers previously closed to hatchery trout and steelhead fishing to protect salmon are re-opened with a 14-inch minimum size limit, and a two-fish daily bag limit. Release of wild cutthroat and steelhead is required.

Fishing on the Kalama River will be allowed from the mouth upstream to 1,000 feet below the upper salmon hatchery fishway. Wild coho (with adipose fins intact) and chum salmon must be released. Chinook longer than 28 inches caught upstream from the natural gas pipeline crossing must be released from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31.

Kalama River gamefish angling will be allowed from the mouth upstream to 200 feet above the temporary rack site located just below the Modrow Bridge. Anglers are reminded that when the temporary rack is installed, the river is closed to all fishing from 200 feet above the rack downstream to a set of markers 1,500 feet below the rack. In addition, night closure and non-buoyant lure restrictions are in place from 200 feet above the temporary rack site downstream to the mouth through Oct. 31. Also, the river from the natural gas pipeline crossing to the deadline at the intake to the lower salmon hatchery is restricted to fly fishing only through Oct. 31.

On the Lewis River all chinook, wild coho with adipose fins intact, and chum must be released. Through Nov 15, fishing from boats will be prohibited on the north fork of the Lewis River from Johnson Creek upstream to Colvin Creek. Anglers also are reminded the north fork of the river from Colvin Creek upstream to Merwin Dam closes to all fishing beginning Oct. 1 to protect spawning wild fall chinook. In addition, night closure and non-buoyant lure restrictions are in effect through Oct. 31 upstream from the lower Cedar Creek concrete boat ramp. Angling is closed at all times shoreward of the cable buoy and corkline at the outlet of the Lewis River salmon hatchery.

In both streams, the daily limit is six salmon; no more than two adults. Minimum size for salmon in these waters is 12 inches.