Cowlitz River – Boat anglers in the lower river are catching a mixture of coho and steelhead. Some fall Chinook are also being reported caught.
Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 208 summer-run steelhead adults, 66 fall Chinook adults, eleven jacks, 33 spring Chinook adults, four jacks, 66 spring Chinook mini-jacks, two coho adults, two jacks and five sea-run cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the week Tacoma Power employees released 22 spring Chinook adults, two jacks and one coho salmon into the Cispus River above the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek and 22 fall Chinook adults and three jacks into Mayfield Lake at the Ike Kinswa State Park boat launch.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 3,500 cubic feet per second with a visibility of 13 feet on Monday, August 31. Flows are expected to remain steady during the week.
Kalama River – Bank anglers are catching a mixture of fall Chinook and coho.
North Fork Lewis River – Anglers are catching a mixture of coho and steelhead
Washougal River – Bank anglers are catching some fall Chinook.
Wind River – Bank and boat anglers are catching some steelhead.
Drano Lake – Boat anglers averaged just under a steelhead per rod. Some coho are beginning to appear in the catch.
White Salmon River – Has been crowded. Boat anglers are mainly catching steelhead while bank anglers are catching a mixture of fall Chinook, coho, and steelhead. Unfortunately, most of the coho were not adipose fin clipped and had to be released.
Several permanent rules will be in effect on Washington lower Columbia River tributaries beginning September 1. They include:
- Grays (including West Fork) and Elochoman rivers – Night closures, anti-snagging rule, and stationary gear restrictions;
- Lower portions of Abernathy, Coal (Cowlitz Co.), Mill (Cowlitz Co.), and Germany creeks plus the Coweeman River – Closed to all fishing in September and October to protect naturally spawning fall Chinook;
- North Fork Toutle River from the confluence with the South Fork to the mouth of the Green River – Night closure and anti-snagging rule;
- Green River (Cowlitz Co.)from mouth to 400’ below salmon hatchery rack – Night closure and anti-snagging rule. Only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained.
- Green River (Cowlitz Co.) – Closed waters from 400’ below to 400’ above the water intake at the upper end of the hatchery;
- Kalama River from natural gas pipeline crossing to the deadline at the intake to the lower salmon hatchery – Fly fishing only;
- Washougal River from Mt. Norway Bridge upstream to Salmon Falls Bridge – Night closure, anti-snagging rule, and stationary gear restriction. When anti-snagging rule is in effect, only fish hooked inside the mouth may be retained (note: these rules are already in effect from mt. Norway Bridge downstream).
Buoy 10 – On the better days, boat anglers averaged nearly a fish per rod. Starting tomorrow (Sept. 1), all Chinook must be released but up to 3 hatchery coho may be kept. Note: The North Jetty remains open to fishing under Buoy 10 rules.
There were about 950 boats counted during last Friday’s (August 28) flight.
Lower Columbia mainstem from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam – Last week we sampled 1,193 boat anglers (517 boats) with 251 adult and 14 jack Chinook, 6 adult coho, and 11 steelhead. In addition we sampled 658 bank anglers with 70 adult and 4 jack Chinook, 4 adult coho, and 31 steelhead.
Nearly 800 boats were counted during the Saturday August 29 flight.
Anglers are reminded effective September 13 all Chinook must be released from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse through Red Buoy #4 to the orange marker atop the dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island. This area will remain open to fishing for hatchery coho, hatchery steelhead, and hatchery sea-run cutthroats.
Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers off the mouths of the White Salmon River and Drano Lake are catching some Chinook.
