Southwest Washington Fishing Reports

2002 Report Archive
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WDFW Sport Sampling Results for December 16-22, 2002
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead

• Elochoman River - No report on angling success. Through December 17, a total of 55 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to the hatchery. This compares to 700 fish that had returned through the same time last year.
• By permanent regulation, December 31 is the last day to fish for salmon on the Elochoman River.
• Cowlitz River - One day last week from the Barrier Dam downstream to Mission Bar, 42 bank anglers sampled had kept 4 winter and 1 summer steelhead plus one coho and released 2 summer steelhead. All bank catch was observed at Blue Creek. 48 boat anglers kept 16 winter and 1 summer steelhead plus 2 coho and released 2 summer steelhead.
• Based on two days of sampling at Lake Scanewa last week, 21 boat anglers kept 13 adult and 3 jack coho plus released 11 adult coho. 9 bank anglers kept 13 adult and 1 jack coho plus released 7 adult coho.
• During the past week Tacoma Power's Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator recovered 5,559 coho salmon, 172 coho jacks, 74 winter-run steelhead, 20 summer-run steelhead and four cutthroat trout during seven days of separator operations.
• Tacoma Power employees released 3,833 coho adults and 63 coho jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at the Day Use Park on Lake Scanewa during the week.
• Tacoma Power employees also released a total of 268 adult coho salmon and 15 coho jacks at the Skate Creek Bridge site on the upper Cowlitz River in Packwood , Washington during the week.
• Tacoma Power employees released 1,367 coho salmon, 43 coho jacks and four winter-run steelhead into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton , Washington during the week.
• A total of 80 steelhead and three sea-run cutthroat trout were recycled downstream to the Massey Bar boat launch during the week.
• River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 3,980 cubic feet per second on Monday, December 23. This compares to the long-term average of 10,320 cfs for this date. Water visibility is 10 feet.
• Cowlitz River winter steelhead returns to date are fairly similar to last year. At the Trout Hatchery, 415 hatchery winter steelhead have been reported through December 18. This compares to 487 fish through December 12, 2001. At the Salmon Hatchery, 110 hatchery winter steelhead have been reported through December 18. This compares to 134 fish through the same time last year.
• Through December 18, over 21,000 adult sea run cutthroat had returned to the Trout Hatchery.
• By permanent regulation, December 31 is the last day to fish in Blue and Mill creeks, Cowlitz River tributaries. In addition, the salmon daily reverts back to 2 adults on the Cowlitz and Cispus rivers plus Lake Scanewa. The Tilton River closes to fishing for salmon beginning January 1 under permanent regulations. Also, wild chinook must be released on the Cowlitz River.
• An estimated 4,900 Cowlitz River adult spring chinook are predicted to return to the Columbia River in 2003. An estimated 3,700 fish returned this year.
• Kalama River - No report on angling success. Through December 18, a total of 145 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery. This compares to 560 fish at the same time last year.
• Wild chinook must be released beginning January 1 under permanent regulations.
• An estimated 3,600 Kalama River adult spring chinook are predicated to return to the Columbia River in 2003. An estimated 2,800 returned this year.
• Lewis River - No report on angling success. Through December 17, a total of 266 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to Merwin Dam. This compares to 233 fish through December 12, 2001.
• Flows below Merwin Dam were 2,950 cfs. This compares to the long-term mean of 8,759 cfs. On the East Fork Lewis at Heisson, the flows were 520 cfs this morning. This compares to the long-term mean of 1,642 cfs.
• By permanent regulation, the North Fork Lewis River from Colvin Creek (above the salmon hatchery) upstream to the overhead power lines below Merwin Dam opens to fishing for salmon January 1. This area is already open to fishing for hatchery steelhead. Also, on the Lewis and North Fork Lewis all wild chinook must be released.
• Three more large, wild adult coho were found on the North Fork Lewis River/Cedar Creek last week. All three were between 35-37 inches in fork length but did not have the girth of the 38 inch fish found two weeks ago.
• An estimated 2,300 Lewis River adult spring chinook are predicted to return to the Columbia River in 2003. An estimated 2,000 fish returned this year.
• Washougal River - No report on angling success. Through December 18, a total of 313 hatchery winter steelhead had returned to Skamania Hatchery. This compares to 228 fish through December 12, 2001.
• Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - No report on angling success. The mainstem Columbia from the I-5 Bridge upstream closes to fishing for salmon beginning January 1. In addition, all wild chinook must be released from the I-5 bridge downstream.
• Bonneville Pool - Low effort and catch. Closes to fishing for salmon beginning January 1.

Sturgeon

• Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Some legals continue to be taken by bank anglers just downstream from Bonneville Dam. In addition, boat anglers in the Vancouver area were catching some legals. Effort was generally light.
• Bonneville Pool - Effort and catches were light.
• The Dalles and John Day pools - Under permanent regulations, open for retention of sturgeon beginning January 1

Smelt

• Effective January 1 through March 31, open to fishing for smelt in the mainstem Columbia and Washington Columbia River tributaries below Bonneville Dam. The mainstem Columbia will be open 7 days/week, 24 hours/day. Tributaries will be open 7 days/week between 6 AM and 10 PM each day. Daily limit is 10 pounds and no license is required. For current sport fishing regulations and fishing updates, please call the WDFW Region 5 office message at 360-696-6211and press *1010.
• A few smelt have been reported caught from the mainstem Columbia commercial fishery.