Washington Department of Fish and WildlifeWDFW Region 5 - Southwest Washington

December 17, 2007

Salmon/Steelhead

Cowlitz River - On the lower river 5 bank and 2 boat anglers had no catch.

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 1,167 coho salmon adults, 25 coho jacks, two fall chinook adults, 50 summer-run steelhead, 117 winter-run steelhead and five cutthroat trout at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator during six days of operations.

During the week Tacoma Power employees released 111 coho adults, seven jacks, and nine winter-run steelhead into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Site, 341 coho adults into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge in Packwood, Washington, and 269 coho adults, five jacks, two fall chinook adults and two cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton, Washington.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately at 9,620 cubic feet per second on Monday, December 17.

Lewis River - 14 bank anglers kept 1 steelhead. Flows below Merwin Dam are 9,500 cfs this morning (Monday Dec. 17).

Washougal River - No report on angling success. Through December 12, a total of 303 steelhead have returned to Skamania Hatchery. 59 fish had returned through the same time frame in 2006. 140 fish are being recycled to the lower river today (Monday Dec. 17).

Lower Columbia below the I-5 Bridge - 14 bank anglers in the Woodland area kept 1 steelhead. 2 boat anglers/1 boat in the Camas/Washougal area had no catch.

Ringold - WDFW staff interviewed 29 anglers at Ringold this week with 7 steelhead. Average catch was 1 steelhead for every 6 hours of fishing. Activity was light.

Washington Columbia River Tributary Adult Spring
Chinook 2007 Returns plus 2008 Forecasts
Area 2007 Forecast 2007 Actual 2008 Forecast Comments
Below Bonneville
Cowlitz
6,400
3,700
5,200
 
Kalama
4,000
7,300
3,700
 
Lewis
5,500
6,700
3,500
 
Total
15,900
17,700
12,400
2008 Forecasts show Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis returns combined could be down 30% from the 2007 actual return.
Bonneville Pool
Wind River
2,100
4,300
10,000
2008 return could be over twice as large as this year. Record return is 25,900 in 2001.
Drano Lake
6,000
6,500
36,800

2008 could be a record return (previous record was 20,600 in 2002). 2008 forecast for Drano Lake is larger than the entire Willamette system.

Klickitat
1,200
1,100
1,100
2008 return could be identical to this year's run.
Total
9,300
11,900
47,900
 

Sturgeon

Cowlitz River - On the lower river, 6 bank anglers released 2 sublegals.

Lower Columbia above the Wauna powerlines - 13 bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam had no catch.


Trout

Silver Lake (Cowlitz County) - No report on angling success. Planted with 3,275 catchable size rainbows on Dec. 12.

Kress Lake in Kalama and Horseshoe Lake in Woodland - No effort.

Battleground Lake - Fishing is reported to be fair to good.

Klineline Pond - 17 bank anglers kept 27 rainbows and released 10. Lots of limits reported. Planted with 5,125 rainbows up to nearly ½ pound each Dec. 10-11.

Lacamas Lake - No effort though planted with 5,000 rainbows weighing nearly ½ pound each on Dec. 10.


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