Cowlitz River - Some spring chinook are being caught on the lower river. Through April 29, a total of 524 hatchery adult spring chinook had returned to the salmon hatchery, matching one of the strongest starts in the past;20 years. In addition, the first arrival of new summer run steelhead have returned.
Anglers should note the south side of the river from Mill Creek to the Barrier Dam is closed to all fishing through mid June per permanent regulations.
Flows below Mayfield Dam on Monday May 4 are just over 5,100 cfs. Water visibility is over five feet. Flows are expected to drop to almost half in the next week.
Kalama River - From Chris Wagemann, WDFW Fish Biologist, on April 28; Adult fish trapping operations ceased for about a 1 1/2 months form January through mid February due to flood damage. This might help explain a poor early hatchery winter-run return of 220 fish to Kalama Falls Hatchery (KFH). These numbers are about 20% below the past eight-year average (1,097).
On the brighter side the late hatchery winter returns have been favorable with 868 having returned to KFH; this compares to the past eight-year average of only 358 fish. The increased return can be attributed to a better smolt plant and migratory survival.
Wild winter returns peaked this past week and to date, 640 fish have been passed upstream of KFH. This is about 50% of the past year average (1,113); It's expected another 200 wild winter fish will be passed upstream by the end of May.
Three wild and three hatchery;summer steelhead were passed upstream of KFH last week. These are the first returns of the 2009 run year. The first spring salmon were handled at KFH last week included one adult and one jack.
Overall the winter steelhead fishing was above average on the Kalama River for the month of March and the beginning of April. Steelhead fishing has slowed with many winter fish getting ready to spawn. However a few early hatchery summer steelhead are getting caught along with the occasional spring chinook. The adult salmon daily limit remains one fish until further notice.
Lewis River - Effort and catch is relatively light although a few more spring chinook were caught near the salmon hatchery late last week. Through April 29, just 16 hatchery adult spring chinook had been collected at the trap; however 8 new summer run steelhead had been trapped the previous week. The adult salmon daily limit remains one fish until further notice.
Flows below Merwin Dam are nearly 7,000 cfs today (Monday May 4).
Wind River - Effort and catches are increasing at the mouth. Overall, boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 6 rods when including fish released. Bank anglers are also catching a few fish.
The upper river from 100' feet above Shipherd Falls upstream to 800 yards below Carson National Fish Hatchery (except closed 400' below and 100' above the Coffer Dam) opened to fishing for salmon and hatchery steelhead beginning May 1. Any chinook, adipose fin clipped or not, may be kept from this section of river. However, the anti-snagging rule is in effect in this section and downstream to the Burlington-Northern Railroad Bridge.
Drano Lake - Including fish released, anglers in the new bank-only area near the mouth and boat anglers both averaged an adult chinook per about every 7 rods. Closed to all fishing Wednesdays through May. The anti-snagging rule has been rescinded for this spring.
White Salmon River - Bank anglers at the mouth are catching some spring chinook, obviously strays since springers are no longer released here.
Klickitat River; from the Fisher Hill Bridge downstream - No spring chinook were found in the sample although there were reports of a couple fish caught. Through May, anglers are able to fish Sunday in addition to the Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday weekly schedule.
Mainstem Columbia River - Angling for spring chinook, steelhead and shad is prohibited in the lower Columbia River below Bonneville Dam. In addition, salmon and steelhead angling is prohibited between Bonneville Dam and the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco; however, shad angling is allowed in that section of river.
Just over a third of this year's total adult spring chinook counted to date at Bonneville Dam has occurred in the last two days (7,036 and 6,317 fish, respectively). Through May 3, a total of 38,396 adult spring chinook had been counted at the dam. At this time last year, 51,667 had been counted. The recent 10 year average is 107,389.
Cowlitz River - Bank and boat anglers are catching some sturgeon from the lower Cowlitz.
Lower Columbia from Buoy 10 to the Wauna powerlines - Sturgeon retention is prohibited in the Columbia River below the Wauna powerlines through May 8. Retention of white sturgeon will be open seven days per week from May 9 to June 28 and from July 2 to 5 or until the harvest guideline is reached. The fork length of retained sturgeon must be a minimum of 41 inches and a maximum of 54 inches. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed on days when retention is prohibited.
Lower Columbia from the Wauna powerlines to Marker #85 - On the lower Columbia River this past weekend sturgeon effort increased over the previous week with 107 boats and 32 bank anglers counted during the Saturday May flight. All sturgeon angling is prohibited from Marker 85 upstream to Bonneville Dam through July to protect spawning sturgeon.
Bonneville Pool - Slow for legal size fish. Retention of white sturgeon is open seven days per week until catch guidelines are met.
The Dalles Pool – All sturgeon must be released through the end of the year. The spawning sanctuary from the Rufus grain elevator upstream to John Day Dam is closed to all sturgeon fishing through July.
John Day Pool – All sturgeon must be released through the end of the year. The spawning sanctuary from the Highway 395/I-82 bridge upstream to McNary Dam is closed to all sturgeon fishing through July.
Mineral Lake near Elbe - 10,860 catchable size rainbows released April 27-29;
Kress Lake in Kalama - Nearly 200 surplus hatchery adult winter run steelhead in addition to the over 4,500 catchable size rainbows have been released since April 24;
Lake Sacajawea in Longview - 6,060 catchable size rainbows have been released since April 24;
Merrill Lake located north of Cougar - 224 triploids averaging 1.5 pounds each planted April 24 (note: fly fishing only and internal combustion motors prohibited);
Kidney Lake near North Bonneville - 224 triploids averaging 1.5 pounds each planted April 23;
Northwestern Reservoir (on the White Salmon River) - 256 triploids averaging 1.5 pounds each planted April 23;
Rowland Lake near Lyle - Almost 6,300 catchable size rainbows and over 900 triploids averaging 1.5 pounds each planted; April 23;
Horsethief Lake near Lyle - 7,200 catchable size rainbows planted April 23;
Little Klickitat River - Just over 900 catchable size rainbows planted April 23 (note: Only juveniles under 15 years old within the Goldendale City Limits)
