Southwest Washington Fishing Reports
2002 Report Archive
[ Current Report ]   [ 2003 Creel Survey Archive ]    [ 2002 Archive ]

WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
December 21, 2003

Salmon/Steelhead -

Cowlitz River - From the barrier dam downstream last week, 108 bank anglers kept 13 winter and 3 summer steelhead and 1 adult and 1 jack coho. 25 boat anglers at Blue Creek kept 5 winter steelhead.

At Packwood, 6 bank anglers had no catch. Lake Scanewa, 16 boat anglers released 5 adult and 1 jack coho.

During the past week, Tacoma Power and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees recovered 433 coho salmon adults, 52 coho jacks, one fall chinook adult, 313 winter-run steelhead, six summer-run steelhead and three cutthroat trout during five days of separator operations at Tacoma Power's Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.

Tacoma Power personnel released 273 coho adults and 20 coho jacks were released into Lake Scanewa above Cowlitz Falls Dam.

Tacoma Power personnel released a total of 67 coho adults, 31 coho jacks, one fall Chinook adult, 11 winter-run steelhead and one cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton , Washington during the week. A total of 157 steelhead and one cutthroat trout were recycled downstream to the I-5 boat launch during the week, and a total of 223 steelhead and two cutthroat trout were recycled downstream to the Olequa boat launch during the week.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 5,300 cubic feet per second on Monday, December 22. Water visibility is three and a half feet.

Beginning January 1, the salmon daily limit will be 6 adults, no more than 2 adults. All unmarked chinook must be released.

Kalama River - Fresh steelhead are being caught but numbers are down slightly from the previous week with the majority of these being hatchery origin but a few nice wild fish are also starting to show.

Hatchery winter steelhead recycled downstream last week 175 fresh fish and 142 recaps (fish already handled one time). Today (12/22) 71 fresh fish and 83 recaps were recycled.

Kress Lake received another 40 steelhead over this same time.

To date 58 wild winter steelhead have been passed upstream of Kalama Falls Hatchery where it remains catch and release for all steelhead and selective gear restrictions apply.

Effective Jan. 1, all unmarked chinook must be released.

Lewis River - No report on angling success. Through Dec. 17, a total of 362 hatchery winter-run steelhead had returned to the facilities.

Effective Jan. 1, the salmon daily limit is 6 salmon, no more than 2 adults. All unmarked chinook must be released. Fishing for salmon will be open from Colvin Creek upstream to the powerlines below Merwin Dam.

Sturgeon -

Mouth upstream to McNary Dam - Re-opens to sturgeon retention effective January 1.

Trout -

South Lewis County Pond near Toledo - 7 bank anglers kept 9 rainbows and 1 cutthroat plus released 2 rainbows.

Carlisle Lake near Onalaska - Planted with 50 brood stock rainbows averaging nearly 6 pounds each and 20 weighing nearly 10 pounds each on December 17.

Kress lake near Kalama - 6 bank anglers had no catch.

Horseshoe Lake in Woodland - 3 bank anglers had no catch.

Klineline Pond - 30 bank anglers kept 38 rainbows and 2 browns plus released 81 rainbows. Planted with 1,500 rainbows averaging nearly ½ pound each on December 15.
Battle Ground Lake - 7 bank anglers released 3 trout and 1 steelhead. 4 boat anglers had no catch.

Lacamas Lake - No report on angling success. Planted with 4,000 rainbows averaging nearly ½ pound each on December 15.

Smelt -

No new reports of any catches. Effective Jan. 1 through March 31, the mainstem Columbia and its Washington tributaries are open 7 days per week. The mainstem Columbia is open 24 hours/day; tributaries open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. Daily limit will be 20 pounds.

[ Current Report ]     [ 2003 Creel Survey Archive ]     [ 2002 Archive ]