Southwest Washington
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WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
August 17, 2003
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Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Sampling showed boat anglers with nearly a hatchery steelhead per rod while bank anglers averaged about ½ fish per rod last week.
During the week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 234 spring chinook adults, 23 spring chinook jacks, three fall chinook adults, 210 summer-run steelhead and one chum salmon adult during five days of separator operations at Tacoma Power's Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
A total of 175 chinook adults were released into two upper Cowlitz River release sites during the week; the Lake Scanewa Day Use Park and off of the U.S. Forest Service 1270 Road above Packwood , Washington .
Also during the past week, Tacoma Power employees recycled 108 steelhead downstream to the Olequa boat launch, and they recycled 77 steelhead and one chum salmon downstream to the Massey Bar boat launch. A total of 50 adult steelhead were transported downstream to the Cowlitz Trout Hatchery for broodstock.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 2,620 cubic feet per second on Monday, August 18. Water visibility is 15 feet.
Drano Lake - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged over 1.6 steelhead per rod last week. Over half the catch were wild fish that were released. Some larger 2-salt fish showing in the catch. Around 90 boats counted there this past weekend.
White Salmon River - Boat anglers averaged over 3/4 steelhead per rod last week when counting fish released. Some fall chinook reported caught at times at the mouth of the river. Bank anglers at the mouth are catching fall chinook in addition to steelhead. About 40 boats counted there last weekend.
Marine Area 1 - Report should be available Wednesday.
Ilwaco, Chinook, Ft Canby
and Washington DataAug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 18-24 totals Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 TOTALS Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - We sampled over 1,300 salmonid anglers with nearly 400 steelhead kept/released last week. Including fish released, boat anglers averaged a steelhead per every 3 rods based on complete trips while bank anglers averaged one per every 5 rods based on mainly incomplete trips last week. Over 70% of the fish caught were hatchery fish.
Anglers are also catching increasing numbers of fall chinook and some hatchery sea-run cutthroats. The first hatchery coho of the season was found in the sample last week.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - A few legals are being caught throughout the river from Bonneville Dam downstream to the Wauna powerlines.
Trout -
Riffe Lake - Fishing from the bank is slow. The reservoir was reported 13.4 feet below full pool today.
Mayfield Lake - Bank anglers are catching some rainbows. The reservoir was planted with over 4,000 one-half pound rainbows last week.
Merwin and Yale reservoirs - Boat anglers averaged 3 and 4 kokanee per rod last week, respectively. The fish are beginning to change into spawning colors.
Swift Reservoir - Anglers are catching some 14-20 inch rainbows.
Vancouver Lake - Producing a variety of non-salmonids including lots of small sized crappie.
Lacamas Lake - Anglers are catching some rainbows and browns.
Skate Creek and Tilton River - Planted with 1,760 and 880 half- pound rainbows last week, respectively.
This and That:
Approximately 150,000 summer run steelhead are swimming in Bonneville Pool and its tributaries based on the difference between Bonneville Dam and The Dalles Dam counts.
A 38", 11 pound tiger muskie was caught at the Cedar Creek Hole on the North Fork Lewis River last Friday (Aug. 15). The fish was brought into our office. It was reported caught on a corkie and eggs. It contained only the stem of a maple leaf in its stomach.