Columbia/Cowlitz Smelt Updates
February 7, 2008

Fishing Rule Updates are available by calling (360) 696-6211 *1010 Here are some web sites that provide daily river data: Cowlitz River water flow and levels: USGS Web site Columbia River estuary water temperature: CORIE Web site

Conditions:

Warming water conditions have the smelt moving back upstream in the Columbia River. WDFW survey crews observed about 40 harbor seals in the Columbia River near Oak Point, situated about 13 miles downstream from the mouth of the Cowlitz River.

The flow at Castle Rock is 18,000 CFS. The water temperature in the lower Columbia River has increased to 40ºF and the Cowlitz River is back to 41ºF. Smelt prefer water of at least 40ºF or warmer.

Catches:

Columbia River:

Commercial:

• 396 lbs landed Monday, February 4th .
• 2,467 lbs cumulative landings since late-December (preliminary numbers).

Cowlitz River:

Sport:

• WDFW test dipping on Wednesday, February 6th, produced no catch.

Commercial:

• No commercial landings reported for February 3rd.
• 0 lbs cumulative since January 2nd

Sport Seasons/Regulations:

Tributaries - Sport dipping is only allowed on the Cowlitz River, from 6 AM to 10 PM Saturdays through March 31st. The daily limit is 10 lbs per person per day. This is equivocal to ¼ of a 5 gallon bucket.

Mainstem Columbia River - daily limit is 25 lbs per person per day and the fishery is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Commercial Seasons:

Columbia River – 9 hour periods Mondays and Thursdays.

Cowlitz River – 6 hour periods Sunday and Wednesday nights.