Washington Department of Fish and WildlifeFishing in Southwest WashingtonRegional Offices


2001 Creel Survey Archive
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WDFW Sport Sampling Results for December 24-30, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Elochoman River - No report on angling success. Through December 26, a total of 760 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the hatchery.
  • Cowlitz River - No report on angling success. Through December 26, a total of 1,189 and 2,344 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the salmon and trout hatcheries, respectively. A promising note for adult summer steelhead next year: 547 jack summer steelhead returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery this year. Flows below Mayfield Dam were 6,160 cfs this morning.
  • Blue and Mill creeks, tributaries to the Cowlitz River, closed to fishing beginning January 1.
  • Kalama River - Last week, 229 bank anglers kept 52 steelhead and released 16 hatchery and 13 wild steelhead. Also, 70 boat anglers kept 18 steelhead. Through December 26, a total of 906 hatchery and 46 wild winter steelhead had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery. All hatchery fish are being recycled downstream. Another promising note for adult summer steelhead returns next year: 205 jack summer steelhead returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery this year.
  • Lewis River - No report on angling success. Through December 26, a total of 1,312 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the facilities on the North Fork Lewis. Flows below Merwin Dam were 6,000 cfs this morning.
  • Washougal River - No report on angling success. Through December 26, a total of 505 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to Skamania Hatchery.
  • John Day Pool - Counting fish released, anglers averaged 3/4 summer run steelhead per rod last week.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia - No report on angling success.
  • Bonneville and The Dalles pools - No report on angling success. Re-opened for sturgeon retention effective Jan. 1.
  • John Day Pool - No reported in-sample catch of legal sized sturgeon last week.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - No reported in-sample catch of either specie last week.

Trout

  • Klineline Pond near Hazel Dell - Just after Christmas, the 36 bank anglers sampled had kept 4 rainbows.
  • Trout releases in mid-December:
    • Klineline Pond - 3,000 rainbows averaging ½ pound each
    • Lacamas Lake near Camas - 6,000 rainbows averaging ½ pound each
    • Ice House Lake near Bridge of the Gods - 2,800 rainbows averaging ½ pound each
    • Little Ash Lake near Stevenosn - 2,800 rainbows averaging ½ pound each
    • Spearfish Lake near Dallesport - - 131 rainbows between 7 and 10 pounds each.

Smelt

  • Lower Columbia - Six more pounds of smelt were caught by a commercial fisherman in the Skamokawa area during mid-December.
  • The Cowlitz River and other Washington Columbia River tributaries are open to fishing for smelt Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6 AM through 10 PM through March 31. The mainstem Columbia is open 7 days week, 24 hours/day through March 31.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for December 10-16, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Grays River - No report on angling success. Through December 12, a total of 332 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the hatchery.
  • Elochoman River - No report on angling success. Through December 12, a total of 90 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the hatchery.
  • Cowlitz River - Bank anglers near the barrier dam are still catching some hatchery coho although most fish are being released. Steelhead catches continue to increase. Flows below Mayfield Dam were 13,700 cfs this morning. Through December 12, a total of 134 and 487 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the salmon and trout hatcheries, respectively.
  • Kalama River - Anglers were catching some hatchery coho and steelhead before the high and turbid water last week. Through December 12, a total of 248 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery. Hatchery fish are being recycled downstream.
  • Lewis River - Good catches of hatchery winter steelhead near the salmon hatchery. Counting some fish released, anglers averaged ½ steelhead per rod last week. Some hatchery coho are still being caught although most are being released. Bank angling effort was high near the hatchery last weekend.
  • Through December 13, over 1,200 hatchery winter steelhead returned to the facilities. Almost all steelhead have been recycled downstream. Flows below Merwin Dam were 14,640 cfs this morning.
  • Washougal River - No report on angling success. Through December 12, a total of 228 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to Skamania Hatchery.
  • John Day Pool - Counting fish released, bank anglers averaged ½ summer steelhead per rod while boaters averaged 3/4 fish per rod last week.
  • Ringold - Bad weather kept angling effort to a minimum last week but the boat anglers that did venture out caught nearly a hatchery summer steelhead per rod. The average was 3 pole/hours per fish. Through December 16, an estimated 813 steelhead had been taken.
  • Adult Spring Chinook Forecasts and Actual Returns in 2001 and Forecasts for 2002:
    Area 2001
    Forecast    		 2001
    Return    		 2002
    Forecast
    Upper Columbia
    364,600
    416,500
    333,700
    Cowlitz River
    1,000
    1,700
    3,100
    Kalama River
    1,000
    1,700
    1,600
    Lewis River
    2,800
    2,200
    2,000
    Wind River
    42,600
    25,600
    40,400
    Drano Lake
    11,100
    14,300
    18,500
    Klickitat River
    1,900
    1,100
    1,600
    Yakima River
    26,100
    21,500
    21,800

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - The 7 bank anglers sampled near Longview had released 6 sublegals last weekend.
  • Bonneville and The Dalles pools - Sturgeon are allowed to be retained beginning Jan. 1, 2002.
  • John Day Pool - Anglers are catching some legals.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - No in-sample effort for either species was found there last week.

Trout

  • No releases reported for last week.

Smelt

  • Based on the poor parent returns observed in 1997-1999, the outlook for the 2002 smelt run would be well below average again. However, it is important to note that ocean conditions off the Washington and Oregon coasts have improved significantly in the last three years and the 2001 run, which was significantly stronger than recent years returns, was the largest since 1993. The strong return in 2001 would suggest that smelt have recovered and would predict a large return in 2002.
  • Level 2 fisheries were adopted at the recent Compact Hearing for the 2002 season. Level 2 fisheries are described in the Smelt Management Plan as "when fishery data indicates a promising abundance in the spawning return and productivity indices are favorable, yet it is still uncertain whether the run is moderate or strong, then fishing time would be increased to collect additional data concerning relative eulachon abundance". The productivity indices are favorable when considering the 2001 returns of smelt and salmonids and the indicators of good salmonid returns again in 2002.
  • All Washington Columbia River tributaries will be open to fishing for smelt only on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6 AM to 10 PM from January 2, 2002 through March 31, 2002. In addition, the mainstem Columbia will be open to fishing for smelt 7 days/week, 24 hours/day from January 1, 2002 through March 31, 2002. The daily limit will be 10 pounds per person. No license is required.
  • If smelt abundance indicates a move to the more liberal Level 3, the number of open days or an increase in the daily limit could be considered for the Washington tributary sport fisheries.
  • Last Wednesday (December 12), a gillnetter near Clatskanie reportedly caught 30 pounds of smelt.
  • For the latest smelt information, anglers are encouraged to call the WDFW Region 5 office hotline message at (360) 696-6211 and press * 1

Other Items

  • This will likely be the last report for 2001. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for December 3-9, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Grays River - No report on angling success. The mainstem Grays from the Highway 4 Bridge upstream to the South Fork and the West Fork Grays from the mouth upstream to the hatchery intake footbridge (except for closed waters near the hatchery) will open to fishing for hatchery steelhead beginning this Saturday (Dec. 15). Through Dec. 5, a total of 111 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the hatchery.
  • Cowlitz River - Counting fish released, bank anglers near the barrier dam averaged about a coho per rod last week. Increasing numbers of steelhead were also appearing in the catch. Through Dec. 5, almost 42,000 coho had returned to the salmon hatchery. In addition, 340 winter steelhead had returned to the trout hatchery. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 9,670 cfs today.
  • Kalama River - Producing a mixture of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead. Through December 5, a total of 59 hatchery and 21 wild winter steelhead had been counted at Kalama Falls Hatchery.
  • Lewis River - Also producing a mixture of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead. The North Fork Lewis from Colvin Creek (just upstream from the salmon hatchery) upstream to the overhead power lines below Merwin Dam opens to fishing for hatchery steelhead beginning this Sunday (December 16). Salmon angling in this section of river remains closed until January 1.
  • Slightly over 50,000 late stock coho have returned to the facilities on the North Fork Lewis. Through Dec. 5, a total of 668 hatchery winter steelhead had also returned to the facilities, nearly the same total for all of last year.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some fall chinook and summer-run steelhead.
  • Ringold - Steelhead fishing was fair last week with bank anglers averaged 18 pole/hours per fish and boat anglers averaged 12 pole/hours per fish. Overall, not a lot of effort.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Bank anglers just downstream from the dam continue to catch some legals.
  • John Day Pool - No in-sample catch was observed there last week.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - No effort observed for either species last week.

Trout

  • Carlisle Lake (near Onalaska) - 56 rainbows weighing 7 to 10 pounds were released here last week.
  • Rowland Lake (near Lyle) - 211 rainbows weighing 7 to 10 pounds were released here last week.

Other Items

  • 2002-2003 Fishing/Hunting licenses are now available at any licensed dealer, including the WDFW Regional Office in Vancouver. They would make a great Christmas present!
  • 2001 Preliminary returns and outlook for 2002 for Columbia River fall chinook and coho runs: In general, fall chinook returns look good for 2002 while coho returns are expected to be down from 2001. Click here for more information.
  • This week's razor clam digging schedule, along with afternoon or evening low tides, is as follows:
    • December 13 (5:27 p.m. -0.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
    • December 14 (6:13 p.m. -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
    • December 15 (6:56 p.m. -0.7) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks, Kalaloch

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for Novebmer 26-December 2, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Lower Columbia tributaries - Pretty good early showing of hatchery winter steelhead. However, more fish than usual may be returning to the hatcheries because the rivers have been high and out of shape quite a bit of the time.
  • Hatchery winter steelhead returns to SW Washington facilities through Nov. 28:
    • Grays River - 23
    • Kalama River - 19
    • Cowlitz River - 86
    • North Fork Lewis River - 217
    • Washougal River - 69
  • Cowlitz River flow below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 12,900 cfs and on the North Fork Lewis below Merwin Dam 11,300 cfs today.
  • Good web sites for SW Washington stream flow conditions are wa.water.usgs.gov/realtime/rt_latest_map.html or www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/index.shtml.
  • John Day Pool - Anglers are catching some summer-run steelhead.
  • Ringold - Bad weather kept many anglers at home last week but those who ventured out did well for hatchery summer-run steelhead. Bank and boat anglers averaged 10 pole/hours per fish.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Some legals are being caught off the bank just below Bonneville Dam.
  • John Day Pool - Anglers are catching some legal sized fish.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - No in-sample effort for either species last week.

Trout

  • No report.

Other Items

  • The WDFW Commission meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m., Friday (Dec. 7) at the Cascade Park Inn and Suites, 221 NE Chkalov Drive in Vancouver. The meeting is scheduled to re-convene in the same location at 9 a.m., Saturday (Dec. 8). In the Friday session the commission will vote on adoption of a proposed Columbia River spring chinook allocation policy, to provide guidance to WDFW in allocating harvest opportunity between commercial and recreational fishers for 2002 and 2003. The commission is scheduled to discuss and take public comment on a draft 2002-03 sportfishing rules package in its Saturday session. The final rules, which will take effect next May, are scheduled to be adopted by the commission in February. Proposed changes in the rules package include creation of several new underwater marine protected areas, a proposal to allow freshwater anglers to use two poles with purchase of a second freshwater fishing license, and revisions to wild steelhead release rule exceptions.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for Novebmer 19-25, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - Heavy effort below the barrier dam last Saturday (Nov. 24) with nearly 200 bank anglers sampled. Including fish released (which was about ½ the catch), anglers averaged a coho per rod. Most of the fish released were dark or had been snagged. Some steelhead are also appearing in the catch. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 11,300 cfs today.
  • The lower portions of Blue and Mill creeks, both Cowlitz River tributaries, open to fishing December 1. Blue Creek, from the mouth to the posted sign at the rearing pond outlet, will be open to fishing for hatchery sea-run cutthroat and hatchery steelhead. Only wheel chair bound anglers may fish from posted sign above rearing pond outlet to posted sign at fence about 40 feet downstream, including the rearing pond outlet. Mill Creek from the mouth to the hatchery road crossing culvert will be open to fishing for hatchery steelhead. In both streams, night closures and non-buoyant lure restrictions will be in effect through the season which runs through December.
  • For information about Cowlitz hatchery returns and releases of adults and jacks into the lower and upper watersheds, please contact the Tacoma Power web site. The address is www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/tpunews/fishreport.htm.
  • Kalama River - Still producing some hatchery coho although quite a few fish are being released.
  • Lewis River - Bank anglers averaged a hatchery adult coho kept per every 3 rods while boat anglers averaged slightly better than ½ fish last week. Quite a few fish being released here too.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some steelhead and fall chinook.
  • Ringold - Effort and catches were down a little last week. Bank and boat anglers averaged 21 and 17.4 pole/hours per hatchery steelhead, respectively.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Bank anglers just below the dam were catching some legals last week.
  • John Day Pool - No in-sample legal size fish were observed last week.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - Some bass still being caught by boat anglers. No in-sample catches of walleye were found there last week.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for Novebmer 12-18, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Kalama River - Anglers did very well on hatchery coho last week. Bank anglers had good success in the canyon area.
  • Lewis River - Still producing hatchery coho and a few winter steelhead are beginning to appear in the catch. An angler brought in a 24.34 pound bright hatchery coho caught on the North Fork Lewis late Saturday. The fish, caught by Jacob Blake of Woodland, was 36 inches long and had a girth of 20 3/4 inches. He weighed the fish today.
  • John Day Pool - Boat anglers are catching some hatchery steelhead.
  • Ringold - Fishing for hatchery steelhead was good to excellent last week with boat anglers averaging a fish per every 10 pole hours and shore anglers one per every 12 hours.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Light sampling occurred last week.
  • John Day Pool - Some legals are being caught.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - There was no in-sample effort for these species.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for Novebmer 5-11, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - No report on angling success. Through November 8, over 20,000 coho had returned to the salmon hatchery. Typically, about 50% of the run had returned by that date. Most of the excess fish are being put upstream. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 3,560 cfs today.
  • Lewis River - Still producing some hatchery coho. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 5,000 cfs yesterday (Nov. 12). A few winter steelhead had been reported at facilities through November 8.
  • Washougal River - Producing some hatchery coho. Beginning last Saturday (Nov. 10), up to 6 adult hatchery coho could be retained in the salmon daily limit.
  • Klickitat River - Boat anglers are catching hatchery coho inside the lower river and at the mouth.
  • Yakima River - Little effort and catch for salmon on the middle portion of the Yakima. Thursday (Nov. 15), is the last day to fish for salmon.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville - No report last week.
  • John Day Pool - Light effort and catches.
  • Ringold - Fishing for hatchery steelhead was very good the first two days but slowed dramatically by the weekend.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville - Some legals are being caught off the bank just downstream from Bonneville Dam.
  • John Day Pool - Effort and catches were light last week.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - Effort and catch for walleye were light last week. There was no in-sample effort for bass.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for October 29-Novebmer 4, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Kalama, Lewis, Washougal, and Klickitat rivers - Anglers are still catching some hatchery coho. Fishing has slowed somewhat at the mouth of the Klickitat but boat anglers still averaged about a ½ fish per rod there last week.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some fall chinook.
  • Yakima River - Fishing was good through the final day at Prosser. An estimated 1,000 adult chinook were caught from the lower Yakima. Mid-Yakima remains open to fishing for salmon but very little effort or catch was observed there last week.
  • Hanford Reach - Not much effort the last few days of the season when adult chinook could be kept above the Vernita Bridge. An estimated 5,600 adult and 1,400 jack fall chinook were caught here this season.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam and boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area are catching some legals.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some legals.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - There was no in-sample effort for walleye last week. However, boat anglers continue to catch some bass.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for October 22-28, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - No report on angling success. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 2,580 cfs today.
  • Green River - Bank anglers kept almost one coho per angler and released close to five coho per angler.
  • Kalama River - Some hatchery coho are being caught with about half of them being released.
  • Lewis River - Boat and bank anglers are catching some coho. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 2,700 cfs today.
  • Wind River - No report on angling success. Closes to fishing for salmon November 1.
  • Klickitat River - No report on angling success.
  • Yakima River - Fishing remained good to excellent near Prosser Dam this week. The fish seemed to have moved upstream of Horn Rapids. For the mid-Yakima just a few anglers were encountered with no fish this week. The river from the Highway 240 Bridge at Richland to 400 feet below Prosser Dam is scheduled to close to fishing for salmon on November 1. The river from the Highway 223 Bridge at Granger to 3,500 feet below Roza Dam remains open to fishing for salmon through November 15.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area are catching some hatchery coho. Boat anglers at the mouth of the Cowlitz are also catching some hatchery coho.
  • John Day Pool - Bank and boat anglers continue to get some chinook and hatchery steelhead.
  • Hanford Reach - Bank anglers landed some fall chinook and released some steelhead. Adult salmon may be retained from the Vernita Bridge upstream to Priest Rapids Dam through October 31.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Bank anglers below Bonneville Dam did fairly well with about one legal kept for every five anglers. Boat anglers below also had some success in the Camas/Washougal area.
  • John Day Pool - Some sub-legals and over-sized sturgeon were released.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - Effort and catches were low last week for both walleye and bass.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for October 15-21, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - Boat anglers did well on adult and jack hatchery coho at the mouth last week. Catch and effort is declining at the mouth of the Toutle. Bank anglers below the barrier dam were catching good numbers of hatchery coho. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 2,560 cfs today.
  • Green River - Bank anglers are catching good numbers of hatchery coho although most are dark fish that are being released.
  • Kalama River - Producing some hatchery coho and steelhead.
  • Lewis River - Anglers were catching some hatchery coho near the mouth and at the salmon hatchery. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 2,040 cfs today.
  • Wind River - No report on angling success. Closes to fishing for salmon November 1.
  • Klickitat River - Very good for boat anglers in the Columbia at the mouth of the Klickitat and just inside the Klickitat River itself. Bright hatchery coho into the high teens are being caught there.
  • Yakima River - Salmon fishing was outstanding on the lower Yakima last week. There were reports of 2 fish per hour being caught below Horn Rapids and Prosser dams. Slow near Granger and Roza.
  • The river from the Highway 240 Bridge at Richland to 400 feet below Prosser Dam is scheduled to close to fishing for salmon on November 1. The river from the Highway 223 Bridge at Granger to 3,500 feet below Roza Dam remains open to fishing for salmon through November 15.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers near Camas/Washougal/Troutdale are catching some hatchery coho. Boat anglers below Bonneville Dam are catching some chinook. However, the river from Beacon Rock upstream to Bonneville Dam closes to fishing for salmon November 1.
  • John Day Pool - Producing some fall chinook and hatchery steelhead.
  • Hanford Reach - Chinook fishing was very good last week with about 2 fish per boat average. Fish quality has gone down with many fish being released. The river from the Vernita Bridge downstream to the wooden powerlines at the old Hanford townsite closes to all fishing after today (October 22). Adult salmon may be retained from the Vernita Bridge upstream to Priest Rapids Dam through October 31.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Quite a few bank anglers and several legals caught just below Bonneville Dam over the past weekend.
  • John Day Pool - Several legals caught by bank anglers last week.
    Through September 30, an estimated 209 of the 560 fish guideline had been taken.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - Effort and catches were low last week. There was no in-sample effort for bass.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for October 8-14, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Grays River from mouth to South Fork - Closed to all fishing effective today (October 15) to protect chum salmon. Fishing for hatchery steelhead re-opens Nov. 15 from the mouth to the Hwy. 4 Bridge and Dec. 15 from the Hwy. 4 Bridge to the South Fork.
  • Cowlitz River - Still producing coho near the mouth of the Toutle. Quite a few fish being released. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 2,560 cfs today.
  • Toutle River - Still some chinook and coho being caught in the North Fork and Green River. Most fish are being released. All chinook must be released in the Green River.
  • Kalama River - Producing some hatchery coho but a lot of fish are being released.
  • Lewis River - Producing some hatchery coho but quite a few fish are being released here too. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 2,040 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - Not a lot of effort on the river except for a fair number of boats in Camas Slough.
  • Drano Lake - Some jacks are being caught by bank anglers.
  • Klickitat River - Boat anglers are having some success for hatchery coho. Best fishing is where the Klickitat empties into the Columbia. Boat anglers there averaged a fish per rod last week.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Limited sampling conducted here last week.
  • John Day Pool - Some chinook are being caught here.
  • Yakima River - Fishing was fair to good at Prosser but slow elsewhere.
  • Hanford Reach - Fishing remained good last week with about a fish per boat despite some very windy weather.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Limited sampling conducted here last week.
  • John Day Pool - Effort was light last week. No legals were found in the sample.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - Not a lot of effort or catch last week.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for October 1-7, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Elochoman River - No report on angling success. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from the Foster-Risk Road Bridge upstream October 1 - December 31.
  • Cowlitz River - Bank anglers near the mouth of the Toutle River averaged a coho for every two anglers, including fish released. Flows at Mayfield Dam are 2,580 cfs.
  • North Fork Toutle River - As of Sept 26th chinook can be retained. Daily limit is six fish of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook. Under permanent regulations all chinook must be released from the Hwy. 504 bridge near Kidd Valley upstream October 1 - November 30. Bank anglers averaged over a chinook released per anlger. Several coho were also released. Green River remains closed to chinook retention.
  • Kalama River - Bank anglers averaged an adult hatchery coho kept for every three anglers, and over one adult coho released for every angler. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released upstream from the natural gas pipeline October 1 - December 31.
  • Lewis River - Bank anglers averaged an adult hatchery coho kept for every 7.5 anglers. Boat anglers averaged an adult hatchery coho kept for every 2.7 anglers. Several chinook were also kept. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 2,040 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - Bank anglers had one chinook kept for twelve anglers checked. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from the Little Washougal River upstream beginning October 1.
  • Wind River - No report on angling success.
  • Drano Lake - Boat anglers averaged a fish kept for every three anglers with the catch composed of chinook jacks, coho, and steelhead.
  • White Salmon River - A few bank anglers were checked with no catch. Boat anglers averaged almost two hatchery coho per angler.
  • Klickitat River - Bank anglers had close to a chinook kept for every two anglers. Boat anglers had no catch to report.
  • Yakima River - Bank anglers on the upper section averaged a chinook kept for every six anglers. The one boat angler checked had retained two adult chinook.
  • Hanford Reach - Bank anglers averaged a chinook kept for every four anglers. Boat angling effort was very high with a chinook kept for every 2.4 anglers.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Effort is dropping as the returning salmon move into the tributaries. Bank anglers averaged a chinook or a hatchery steelhead kept for every five anglers. Boat anglers were a little more successful with a chinook or hatchery coho kept for every 2.4 anglers.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Sturgeon bank anglers averaged a legal kept for every 4.3 anglers. Boat anglers averaged a legal kept for every 7 anglers. Sturgeon retention was allowed beginning October 1st.
  • Bonneville Pool - No report on angling success.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers had a fish for every 1.5 anglers, with the catch consisting of chinook, coho, and steelhead. Boat anglers averaged a fish for every 7.8 anglers.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • John Day Pool - Boat anglers averaged about a fish per angler, including fish released.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for September 24-30, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Elochoman River - No report on angling success. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from the Foster-Risk Road Bridge upstream October 1 - December 31.
  • Cowlitz River - Bank anglers near the mouth of the Toutle River averaged an adult hatchery coho kept per about every 1.5 rods last week. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 26 chinook could be retained on the Cowlitz from the mouth upstream to the barrier dam. A few chinook caught below the barrier dam, a chinook kept for every 3 rods.
  • N. Toutle River - Beginning Wed. Sept. 26 chinook can be retained. Daily limit is 6 fish of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook. Under permanent regulations all chinook must be released from the Hwy. 504 bridge near Kidd Valley upstream October 1 - November 30. Bank anglers near the mouth of the Green River averaged an adult chinook kept per about 5 rods. Coho fishing still remains slow. Green River remains closed for chinook retention.
  • Kalama River - Bank anglers averaged an adult hatchery coho per every 5 rods last week. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released upstream from the natural gas line pipeline October 1 - December 31.
  • Lewis River - Boat and bank anglers averaged about an adult hatchery coho per every 3 rods. Under permanent regulations, the North Fork Lewis from Colvin Creek upstream to Merwin Dam closes to all angling beginning October 1. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 2,150 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - Bank anglers are catching a few chinook. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from the Little Washougal River upstream beginning October 1.
  • Wind River - Boat anglers are catching some hatchery coho.
  • Drano Lake - No report.
  • White Salmon River - No report. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from posted markers ½ mile upstream of the Highway 14 bridge upstream beginning October 1.
  • Klickitat River - Bank anglers have caught a few chinook and hatchery coho.
  • Yakima River - Fishing was slow on the Yakima, a few chinook and coho were caught.
  • Hanford Reach - Fishing was good this week, averaging a fish per boat. Over the weekend over a 100 boat trailers were counted each day at the Vernita Bridge area.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 16 rods last week. Best catches of chinook and coho were at the mouth of the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers.
  • Bonneville Pool - Some fall chinook being caught at the mouths of the White Salmon and Drano Lake.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Not much effort last week. Sturgeon retention is scheduled to re-open October 1.
  • John Day Pool - No report.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • No report.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for September 17-23, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Elochoman River - No report on angling success. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from the Foster-Risk Road Bridge upstream October 1-December 31.
  • Cowlitz River - Bank anglers near the mouth of Toutle River averaged an adult hatchery coho kept per about every 3 rods last week. Beginning Wed. Sept. 26, chinook may be retained on the Cowlitz from the mouth upstream to the barrier dam. The salmon daily limit is 6 fish of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook. Under permanent regulations all chinook must be released from Blue Creek upstream to Mill Creek October 1-December 31.
  • On the upper Cowlitz, Tilton, Cispus rivers and Lake Scanewa (Cowlitz Falls Reservoir), the salmon daily limit increases to 6 fish, no more than 4 adults beginning October 1. Fish releases into the upper Cowlitz basin depends on returns to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
  • Toutle River including North Fork and Green rivers - Quite a few chinook being released but coho fishing remains slow.
  • Beginning Wed. Sept. 26, chinook may be retained on the Toutle River including the North Fork. The salmon daily limit is 6 fish of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook. Under permanent regulations all chinook must be released from the Hwy. 504 Bridge near Kidd Valley upstream October 1-November 30. The Green River remains closed to chinook retention.
  • Kalama River - Bank anglers averaged an adult hatchery coho per about every 5 rods last week. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released upstream from the natural gasline pipeline October 1-December 31.
  • Lewis River - Boat and bank anglers averaged about an adult hatchery coho per every 4 rods last week. Under permanent regulations, the North Fork Lewis from Colvin Creek (located upstream from the salmon hatchery) upstream to Merwin Dam closes to all angling beginning October 1. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 2,275 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - Bank anglers are catching some fall chinook although most are being released. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from the Little Washougal River upstream beginning October 1.
  • Wind River - Boat anglers are catching some adult hatchery coho.
  • Drano Lake - Last week, boat anglers averaged an adult hatchery coho per rod. Some hatchery steelhead and a few fall chinook are also appearing in the catch.
  • White Salmon River - Anglers are catching some adult hatchery coho. Under permanent regulations, all chinook must be released from posted markers ½ mile upstream of the Highway 14 Bridge upstream beginning October 1.
  • Klickitat River - Bank anglers averaged ½ adult hatchery coho per rod last week. Some adult fall chinook are also being taken.
  • Yakima River - Fishing was slow on the lower Yakima with a few fish taken at Chandler and Prosser.
  • Hanford Reach - Fishing was good last week with some days being excellent. The overall average was over ½ fish per boat but some days at Vernita the average was a fish per boat. Nearly one hundred boat trailers were counted each day at the Vernita Bridge area last weekend.
  • Buoy 10 - Good weather but not many fishers or catch last Saturday, at least at the Knappton and Deep River ramps.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 7.4 rods last week. Best catches of chinook and hatchery coho were near the mouths of the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers.
  • Bonneville Pool - Some fall chinook are being taken at the mouths of Drano Lake and the White Salmon River.
  • John Day Pool - No report.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Not much effort last week. Sturgeon retention is scheduled to re-open October 1.
  • John Day Pool - No report.

Walleye and Bass and other warm water fish

  • Mayfield Lake - A possible new state record tiger musky was caught there Saturday. Fish was 51" and weighed 31.25 lbs, beating the old record by 3 lbs. Anglers name was John Bays of Chehalis. Amazingly, his friend, Britt Lawrence of Onalaska caught a 30.0 lb fish the same day, also larger than the current state record (See photo by Jack Tipping - larger fish is on the right).
  • John Day Pool - No report.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for September 10-16, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - Anglers are catching hatchery coho around the mouth of the Toutle. Bank anglers averaged ½ fish per rod last week.
  • Toutle River - Quite a few chinook being caught (which have to be released) in the North Fork Toutle and Green rivers but few hatchery coho were being taken last weekend.
  • Kalama River - Bank anglers averaged one hatchery coho per every 3 rods last week. Some fall chinook and hatchery summer run steelhead are also being caught.
  • Lewis River - Anglers averaged about ½ hatchery coho per rod last week. Some chinook and hatchery summer run steelhead are also being caught. Bank angling effort has been heavy around the salmon hatchery. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 3,000 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - Bank anglers are catching some fall chinook. Quite a few fish are being foul-hooked and being released.
  • Wind River - Lots of coho are present but catches have been light.
  • Drano Lake - Boat anglers are catching some hatchery coho. Steelhead catches continue to slow.
  • White Salmon River - A mixture of fall chinook, hatchery coho, and hatchery steelhead are appearing in the catch.
  • Klickitat River - Bank anglers are catching mainly hatchery coho and fall chinook.
  • Buoy 10 - At the Knappton and Deep River ramps, boat anglers averaged about a coho per rod last week. Catches were good at the beginning of the week but continued to slow through the weekend.
  • No report from Chinook/Ilwaco is currently available.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers from Bonneville to Cathlamet averaged a adult chinook per every 8 rods last week. Bank anglers are catching a few fall chinook and hatchery steelhead.
  • Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers are catching fall chinook at the mouth of the tributaries.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some hatchery steelhead.
  • Yakima River - Off to a slow start with a few fish taken near Prosser.
  • Hanford Reach - Fishing picked up last week, averaging about ½ adult chinook per boat.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Not much effort although the few boat anglers sampled had released some legals. Sturgeon retention is scheduled to be allowed again beginning Oct. 1.
  • John Day Pool - Low effort and catches last week.

Walleye and Bass

  • John Day Pool - Low effort and catches last week.

Trout

  • No report.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for September 3-9, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Kalama River - Anglers are catching fall chinook, coho, and steelhead. Quite a few coho and steelhead are present throughout the lower river.
  • Lewis River - At the mouth, boat anglers are catching fall chinook, coho, and steelhead. Quite a few coho and steelhead are present in the North Fork Lewis. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 3,500 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - Quite a few fall chinook spread throughout the river but effort is low.
  • Drano Lake - Steelhead angling may be slowing but numbers of fall chinook and coho should be increasing.
  • White Salmon River - Boat anglers averaged nearly a hatchery steelhead per rod last week. Increasing numbers of coho are appearing in the bank anglers catch.
  • Klickitat River - Bank anglers averaged better than ½ hatchery coho per rod last week. Fall chinook and a few steelhead are also appearing in the catch.
  • Marine Area 1 - No report is currently available.
  • Buoy 10 - At the Knappton and Deep River ramps, boat anglers averaged 2 hatchery coho per rod last week. No report was available for Chinook or Ilwaco.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook kept per every 4.6 rods last week. Best catches were earlier in the week. Increasing numbers of hatchery coho are appearing in the catch, primarily around the mouth of the Cowlitz.
  • Based on the Saturday Sept. 8 flight count, a total of 737 salmonid boats were counted from Bonneville Dam downstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line. At the mouth of the Cowlitz and in the Camas/Washougal area, 231 and 224 boats were counted, respectively. In addition, nearly 100 boats were counted near the mouth of the Lewis.
  • Yesterday (Saturday September 10), a total of 26,376 adult fall chinook were counted at Bonneville Dam. It appears to be the third highest daily count on record. The record was 39,376 fish set on September 12, 1987.
  • TAC updated river mouth run sizes to 234,400 brights and 109,000 tules. The preseason forecast was 178,000 brights and 61,900 tules.
  • Returns of jack fall chinook have been strong to date with 26,400 brights and 19,400 (including adult-size jacks) counted at Bonneville Dam through September 9.
  • In addition, the 2001 coho return above Bonneville Dam appears to be at record levels. Yesterday, over 19,000 coho were counted at Bonneville Dam. To date, over 106,000 coho had been counted. The season total record is 108,649 coho in 1986.
  • Also, steelhead appear to be moving out of Bonneville Pool in mass numbers. Yesterday, 15,571 fish were counted at The Dalles Dam.
  • Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers are catching some fall chinook at the mouth of the tributaries.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some steelhead.
  • Hanford Reach - Effort and catch for fall chinook is increasing. However, more steelhead were caught than fall chinook again last week. Nearly 50 boat trailers were observed near the Vernita Bridge each day last weekend.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Little effort last week.
  • John Day Pool - Light effort and catches last week.

Walleye and Bass

  • John Day Pool - Slow for walleye. No in-sample effort was observed for bass last week.

Trout

  • Mayfield and Riffe reservoirs - The creel census sampling has been completed for the year.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for August 27-September 3, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - Some coho are appearing in the lower river.
  • Kalama River - Producing some fall chinook, hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.
  • Lewis River - Producing hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead.
  • Wind River - Generally light effort and catches.
  • Drano Lake - Producing mainly hatchery steelhead and a few fall chinook and hatchery coho.
  • White Salmon River - Producing hatchery steelhead.
  • Klickitat River - Based on tribal catches, lots of fall chinook and coho are present in the lower river. However, the river has been turbid at times.
  • Lower Columbia from Bonneville Dam downstream to Cathlamet - Relatively slow considering all the fish going by. Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 8.2 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 25.6 rods last week. Some hatchery coho and steelhead are also appearing in the catch. Adult fall chinook counts at Bonneville Dam reached 14,326 fish yesterday.
  • Lots of salmonid effort was observed during the Saturday Sept. 1 flight. A total of 1,167 boats were counted from Bonneville Dam downstream to Cathlamet. The heaviest effort was found near the mouth of the Lewis and Camas/Washougal areas were 274 and 265 boats were counted, respectively. In addition, there were 192 boats near the mouth of the Cowlitz and 143 boats near Vancouver. Also, 204 bank anglers were counted along the Washington shore from Bonneville Dam downstream to Cathlamet.
  • Bonneville Pool - Slow for fall chinook last week.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some steelhead.
  • Hanford Reach - The first fall fish of the season was sampled last weekend. Still lots of steelhead being caught and released.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville - Not much effort was observed last week.
  • John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish.

Walleye and Bass

  • John Day Pool - Very good for bass but has slowed for walleye. Including fish released, boat anglers averaged almost 10 bass and one walleye per every 4.4 rods last week.

Trout

  • Mayfield Reservoir - Boat anglers averaged nearly 2 rainbows per rod last week.
  • Riffe Reservoir - Early last week, the effort on the entire lake was way down.
  • Recent releases of 1/2 pound rainbows:
    • Skate Creek - 1,200 fish
    • Tilton River - 2,000 fish.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for August 20-26, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Grays River - Opens to fishing for hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead beginning September 1. The salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which all may be adult hatchery coho. All chinook and chum must be released.
  • Deep River - Effective Sept. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, no more than 2 adult chinook.
  • Elochoman River - Opens to fishing for chinook and hatchery coho effective Sept. 1. The salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook.
  • Abernathy, Germany, and Coal creeks near Longview - Are closed to all fishing in September and October to protect naturally spawning fall chinook.
  • Cowlitz River - Fishing on the lower river is slow. The river is turbid below the mouth of the Toutle. Effective September 1, all chinook must be released on the entire river. From the barrier dam downstream, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which all may be adult hatchery coho effective Sept. 1. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 2,650 cfs today.
  • Toutle River (including the North Fork and Green rivers) - Effective Sept. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which all may be adult hatchery coho. All chinook must be released.
  • Kalama River - Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead. Some fall chinook have appeared at the traps but fishing has been slow for salmon. Effective Sept. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook.
  • Lewis River - Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead and some coho are beginning to appear in the catch. Effective Sept. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 1,500 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - There is a mistake in the regulation pamphlet. The salmon daily limit remains 6 fish, no more than 2 adults.
  • Drano Lake - Boat and bank anglers averaged about ½ hatchery steelhead per rod last week. Some fall chinook and coho are beginning to appear in the catch. Effective Sept. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook.
  • White Salmon River - Including fish released, bank anglers averaged about 3/4 steelhead per rod last week. Some fall chinook are also appearing in the catch.
  • Klickitat River - Effective Sept. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 fish, of which no more than 2 may be adult chinook.
  • Marine Area 1 - Last week, Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) anglers averaged 1.7 salmon per rod. About 5% of the catch were chinook. Through August 26, an estimated 6,379 (82.3%) of the chinook guideline and 92,242 (90.0%) of the coho quota had been taken.
  • Buoy 10 - The best fishing last week was on Friday when anglers averaged 1/3 chinook and 1.4 coho per rod. Through August 26, an estimated 67,900 angler trips has produced 9,445 chinook and 57,600 coho. Effective Thursday August 30, all chinook must be released. However, up to 4 hatchery coho may be retained.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Bank anglers averaged a hatchery steelhead kept per every 15 rods based on mostly incomplete trips last week. Boat anglers averaged a chinook and hatchery steelhead kept per every 17 and 21 rods, respectively, last week.
  • Yesterday, 12,185 adult fall chinook, 6,594 steelhead, and 5,518 adult coho were counted at Bonneville Dam.
  • Bonneville Pool - The mouths of the Washington tributaries are producing some fall chinook and steelhead. Effective September 1 through October 15, non-buoyant lure restrictions and night closures will be in effect on the Washington side of the river.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some summer-run steelhead.
  • Hanford Reach - Slow for salmon although lots of steelhead are being released at Ringold.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville - Sturgeon effort remains low.
  • John Day Pool - Boat anglers are catching a few legal sized fish. Sturgeon retention has been extended until further notice in John Day Pool. Less than 40 percent of the 560-fish harvest guideline is expected to be harvested by September 1 when the retention period was scheduled to end.

Walleye and Bass

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers were catching some walleye near Camas/Washougal.
  • John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged 2/3 walleye and over 13.5 bass per rod last week.

Trout

  • Mayfield Reservoir - Boat anglers averaged nearly 2 rainbows each. Not many anglers out due to poor weather conditions.
  • Riffe Reservoir - Not many anglers out due to poor weather conditions.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for August 13-19, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Kalama River - Effort was light on the Kalama River and no catch was checked.
  • Lewis River - Bank anglers averaged a steelhead for every 7 - 8 anglers, including steelhead released. Chinook are starting to show up in the catch for both bank and boat anglers. Boat anglers did very well this week with a fish for every 2 - 3 anglers, including fish released. The catch consisted mostly of steelhead with some chinook, adults and jacks mixed in.
  • Wind River - Effort was very light last week with 5 bank anglers checked with no catch.
  • Drano Lake - Bank and boat anglers continue to do well catching steelhead. Bank anglers averaged close to a steelhead per person, including fish released. Boat anglers averaged about a fish for every 4 anglers, including fish released. A chinook showed up in the catch this week.
  • White Salmon River - Fishing was great at the White Salmon this week. Bank anglers averaged a steelhead for every 2 - 3 anglers, including fish released, and the boat anglers had about 1.5 fish for every angler, including steelhead released.
  • Klickitat River - Effort was very low and no catch was seen.
  • Hanford Reach - Effort was high for the opening week. The catch consisted almost entirely of released steelhead. One chinook was caught by the bank anglers.
  • Lower Columbia River below Bonneville Dam - Bank anglers continued to catch some steelhead this week with the best catch showing up in the Longview to County Line area, averaging a steelhead for every 7 - 8 anglers including fish released. Boat anglers did well in the Longview area averaging a fish for every 2 - 3 anglers, including fish released. Chinook are starting to make up a larger portion of the catch.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Closed to retention of sturgeon.
  • Bonneville Pool - No anglers were checked in Bonneville Pool.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers had a little activity catching sub-legals, but no legals were caught. Boat anglers caught and released some sub-legals and a couple of over-sized sturgeon.

Walleye and Bass

  • Bonneville Pool - No anglers were checked in Bonneville Pool.
  • John Day Pool - Bank anglers released a couple of bass. Boat anglers saw a lot of activity with one walleye kept for every two anglers and about 5 bass released per angler.

Trout

  • No sampling was reported for Lakes.
  • Recent releases of catchable size trout:
    • Skate Creek - 1,932 rainbows
    • Tilton River - 1,764

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for August 6-12, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Buoy 10 -Through August 5, an estimated 4,816 anglers at Ilwaco and Chinook caught 134 chinook and 3,444 coho. At the Deep River and Knappton ramps last week, we sampled 19 boat anglers with 1 hatchery coho kept. During the Saturday August 11 flight, 663 private and 23 charter boats were counted at Buoy 10.
  • Marine Area 1 - Last week, anglers averaged slightly better than 1.6 fish per rod. 93% of the catch were coho. Through August 12, an estimated 4,480 (57.8%) of the chinook guideline and 62,515 (61.0%) of the coho quota had been taken.
  • Effective Aug. 16, the salmon daily limit at Buoy 10 increases to 3 fish, no more than 1 chinook. Wild coho have to be released.
  • Kalama River - Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead. Through Aug. 8, a total of 31 adult fall chinook had been trapped at the Modrow rack.
  • Lewis River - Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 1,500 cfs today.
  • Wind River - Low effort but some hatchery summer-run steelhead are being caught.
  • Drano Lake - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged 1.3 steelhead per rod last week.
  • White Salmon River - Counting fish released, bank and boat anglers averaged about a steelhead per rod last week. A few fall chinook are also being taken.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Slower for hatchery steelhead last week. Including fish released, bank anglers on the Washington sand bars averaged a steelhead kept per every 9.9 rods while boat anglers averaged one per every 6.8 rods last week. A few fall chinook and coho are appearing in the catch. Fishing for sea-run cutthroats below Longview is good for the few anglers actually targeting them.
  • Still pretty heavy effort at the mouth of the Cowlitz. On the Saturday August 11 flight, 115 boats were counted there. Nearly 100 boats were counted int the Camas/Washougal area. Effort on the Washington shore was heaviest near Longview where 117 rods were counted.
  • Water temperature measured yesterday at Bonneville Dam was a warm 70 degrees.
  • Bonneville and John Day pools - Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead for bank anglers.
  • The mainstem Columbia from the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco upstream to Priest Rapids Dam opens to fishing for salmon
    Aug. 16.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville - Not much effort with the river being closed to sturgeon retention.
  • Bonneville Pool - Today is the last day to keep sturgeon in Bonneville Pool.
  • John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish. Remains open for sturgeon retention.

Walleye and Bass

  • Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers averaged 11 bass per rod last week. There was no in-sample effort for bass.
  • John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged ½ walleye and over 10 bass per rod last week.

Trout

  • Mayfield Reservoir - Boat anglers averaged 2 rainbows per rod last week.
  • Riffe Reservoir - Boat anglers averaged 4 fish per rod last week, primarily landlocked coho. The lake was reported 41 feet below full pool today. The boat ramps at Mossyrock Park are reported to be useable. The Taidnapum ramp was reported not useable.

 

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for July 30-August 5, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Kalama River - Some steelhead were caught by both bank and boat anglers, averaging about a steelhead for every 8 - 10 anglers, including fish released.
  • Lewis River - Boat anglers did very well averaging almost one steelhead for every angler, including fish released. Flows for Lewis River are 1500 cfs.
  • Drano Lake - Boat anglers did very well last week averaging a steelhead for about every two anglers, including fish released. Bank anglers were also catching some hatchery steelhead, averaging about one fish for every six anglers.
  • White Salmon River - Bank anglers averaged a steelhead for every 1.3 anglers, including fish released. Boat anglers averaged more than one steelhead per angler, including fish released.
  • Klickitat - Effort was very low, although there was still some catch of hatchery steelhead.
  • Buoy 10 - Boat anglers did very well catching more than one hatchery coho for every angler, not including released coho. Effort was very low for bank fishing.
  • Effort for salmonids at Buoy 10 and the lower Columbia has been high. On the Saturday August 4 flight, an estimated 1,100 boats were at Buoy 10. In addition, there were 600 boats from Bonneville Dam downstream to the estuary (not including Buoy 10). Heaviest effort was at the mouth of the Cowlitz where 114 boats were counted. Also, there were 600 bank anglers on the Washington shore from Bonneville to Cathlamet.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Effort for steelhead was high and catch was very good. Catches for bank and boat effort averaged a fish for every 3 - 8 anglers, including fish released. Catch was the best this week for boat anglers in the Woodland and Ridgefield areas, averaging a steelhead for every 3 anglers including fish released. The Columbia River below Bonneville Dam opened August 1 for retention of salmon. Some chinook showed up in the catch, particularly in the boat catch upstream of the mouth of the Cowlitz River.
  • A new record single daily count of steelhead at Bonneville Dam occurred August 3 when 14,432 fish were counted. To date, 300,000 steelhead have been counted at Bonneville Dam. This is a new record for A-run type steelhead.
  • Bonneville Pool - Bank anglers caught about a steelhead for every 6 anglers, including fish released, while boat anglers did even better with almost a fish for every angler, including released fish.
  • Marine Area 1 anglers averaged 1.7 salmon per rod. 93% of the catch was coho. Through August 5, an estimated 3,612 (46.6%) of the chinook guideline and 50,309 (49.1%) of the coho quota had been taken.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Sturgeon effort dropped way off this week. The end of July produced some kept sturgeon in Section 1, the area just below Bonneville Dam. Since August 1, however, there has been minimal catch and release effort for sturgeon.
  • Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers had one legal kept for 11 anglers checked. Bank anglers had no kept sturgeon for this past week.
  • John Day Pool - Boat anglers had a legal kept for every 23 anglers, while bank anglers had only one legal kept for the 118 anglers checked.

Walleye and Bass

  • Bonneville Pool - Effort was very low, however, the few people checked averaged three bass for every bank angler and 6 bass for every boat angler, including fish released.
  • John Day Pool - Effort was very low, but catch was good. Boat anglers averaged 12 bass for every angler, including fish released.

Trout

  • No sampling information was available for last week.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for July 23-29, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - No report on angling success. Through July 25, nearly 800 adult and 160 jack steelhead had returned to the Cowlitz hatcheries.
  • Kalama River - Producing some hatchery summer-run steelhead. Through July 25, a total of 438 adult and 39 jack hatchery summer-run steelhead plus 201 adult and 4 jack wild steelhead had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery.
  • Lewis River - Producing hatchery summer-run steelhead, in the North Fork and at the mouth. Through July 25, nearly 4,000 hatchery summer run steelhead had returned to the facilities.
  • Washougal River - No report on angling success. Through July 25, nearly 2,000 steelhead had returned to Skamania Hatchery.
  • Drano Lake -Continues to improve for hatchery summer-run steelhead. Counting fish released, boat anglers averaged nearly a steelhead per rod last week.
  • White Salmon River - Continues to improve for hatchery summer-run steelhead. Counting fish released, bank anglers averaged ½ steelhead per rod while boat anglers averaged a fish per rod last week.
  • Klickitat River - Continues to produce hatchery summer-run steelhead.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Counting fish released, bank anglers averaged a steelhead per every 4.6 rods while boaters averaged one per every 2.7 rods last week.
  • At Bonneville Dam, steelhead daily counts reached 13,579 fish on Saturday July 28. It was the largest single day count since at least 1984. Through July 29, the 200,000 A-run type steelhead counted to date nearly equals the pre-season run forecast. The record for A-run steelhead, those fish counted from April 1-August 25 and primarily headed to the upper Columbia, was 276,400 fish in 1986.
  • Bonneville and John Day pools - Slow for hatchery steelhead.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - At Deep River and Knappton ramps, boat anglers averaged a legal kept per every 3.6 rods last weekend. Twenty-three charters and 203 private boats were counted in the Estuary last Friday (July 27). Bank angling is slow.
  • Reminder: The lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam closes to sturgeon retention from August 1-September 30. It remains open for catch-and-release fishing.
  • Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers averaged 3/4 legal per rod last week.
  • John Day pool - Lots of effort but light catches last week.

Walleye and Bass

  • Bonneville Pool - Light effort and catches.
  • John Day Pool - Boat anglers averaged nearly 20 bass per rod last week. Walleye fishing was slower last week.

Trout

  • Mayfield Lake - Still producing good catches of rainbows, primarily for boat anglers.
  • Riffe Lake - Producing mainly landlocked steelhead and coho.

 

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for July 16-22, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz River - No report on angling success. Opens to fishing for hatchery coho effective August 1. All chinook must be released. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 2,650 cfs today.
  • Kalama River - Including fish released, bank anglers averaged about a steelhead per every 3 rods last week.
  • Lewis River - Anglers continue to catch hatchery steelhead in the North Fork and at the mouth of the river. Fall chinook will be allowed to be retained this year. In addition, boat anglers will be able to fish in the Cedar Creek hole this fall. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 1,500 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - No report on angling success. Opens to fishing for salmon effective August 1.
  • Bonneville Pool tributaries - Continues to improve for hatchery steelhead. Salmon angling re-opens at Drano Lake and the mouth of the Wind River plus adult salmon may be retained in the Klickitat River effective August 1.
  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Continues to improve for hatchery steelhead. Including fish released, bank anglers averaged a steelhead per every 3 rods last week. Adult chinook and hatchery coho may be retained effective August 1 from Buoy 10 upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco.
  • At Bonneville Dam, daily steelhead counts reached 7,600 fish on Friday July 20. Through July 22, over 124,000 steelhead had been counted at Bonneville Dam. The recent ten-year average is slightly over 36,000 steelhead.
  • Bonneville and John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some steelhead.

Sturgeon

  • Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers at the Deep River and Knappton ramps averaged a legal kept per every 3 rods last weekend.
  • Note: Look for a Fishing Rule Change Notice this week about possible catch-and-release only sturgeon fishing on the lower Columbia below Bonneville in August and September.
  • Bonneville Pool - The small numbers of boat anglers sampled last week averaged 2/3 legal per rod. Overall, effort was down last week.
  • John Day Pool - Anglers are catching some legals.

Walleye and Bass

  • Bonneville Pool - Effort and catch for walleye and bass was low last week.
  • John Day Pool - Counting fish released, boat anglers averaged ½ walleye per rod last week. There was no in-sample effort for bass last week.

Trout

  • Mayfield Lake - Boat anglers averaged 3 rainbows per rod last week.
  • Riffe Lake - Bank anglers averaged a trout per rod last week. Catch was a mixture of landlocked steelhead and coho plus cutthroats. The lake was reported 38 feet below full pool today.

WDFW Sport Sampling Results for July 9-15, 2001
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

  • Cowlitz Hatchery - No report on angling success. Through July 3, a total of 231 adult and 22 jack summer-run steelhead had returned to Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Flows below Mayfield Dam were expected to be 2,630 cfs today.
  • Kalama River - A total of 289 hatchery adult (plus 23 jacks) and 169 wild adult summer-run steelhead had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery through July 11.
  • Lewis River - Producing hatchery summer-run steelhead and some spring chinook mini jacks. Through July 11, nearly 2,800 hatchery summer-run steelhead had returned to the facilities. Flows below Merwin Dam were expected to be 1,650 cfs today.
  • Washougal River - No report on angling success. Thr