WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
February 6, 2005
 |
Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - No winter steelhead were found in the sample last week. During the past week, Tacoma Power and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife employees recovered 31 coho adults and 32 steelhead during five days of separator operations at Tacoma Power’s Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
Tacoma Power employees released 20 coho adults into the upper Cowlitz River in Packwood, Washington during the week. They transported 11 coho adults and nine steelhead to the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton during the week.
During the week Tacoma Power employees recycled 52 steelhead adults downstream to the Interstate-5 boat launch.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 5,030 cubic feet per second on Monday, February 7. Water visibility is approximately two feet.
Kalama River - From Chris Wagemann, Kalama River Fish Biologist, on Feb. 2:
"Very good conditions, moderate flow and good color. Bank and boat fishing pressure increasing with the unseasonable good weather conditions. Quantity low, but quality is high with most fish being wild along with an occasional "late hatchery fish".
The hatchery winter-run "traditional early stock" is winding down. The Kalama saw an exceptional hatchery winter-run return to the Kalama Falls Hatchery (KFH) this season, with over 1,200 hatchery winter fish handled. The return rate of 2.1 percent to the hatchery from smolts planted for this year is 4 times the 10-year average return rate to Kalama Falls Hatchery!
The wild winter steelhead return of 225 fish thus far, is also indicating a run size this year similar to last year's record of 2,200 fish. However, it's still early to get excited since wild winter fish return primarily in March and April.
Our wild winter broodstock program "late hatchery stock" is also showing the potential for a favorable return. To date, 30 of these fish have been handled and recycled back downstream with the largest being 20 pounds. These fish return during the same period as the wild fish, peaking at KFH in April.
Trapped at the hatchery: On Friday, 23 "earlies", 5 "lates" and 28 "re-run" hatchery winter steelhead were recycled to the lower river while 20 wild winter steelhead were passed upstream of KFH. On Monday 14 "earlies", 3 "lates" and 21 "re-run" hatchery winter steelhead were recycled to the lower river, while 21 wild winter steelhead were passed upstream of KFH. Kress Lake received no steelhead."
Lewis River - 4 bank anglers had no catch last week.
Lower Columbia below I-5 - No report on angling success. 16 salmonid boats were counted during the Saturday Feb. 5 flight. Bank angling effort was light.
Bonneville Pool - No effort for salmonids was observed last week.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers were catching some steelhead.
John Day pool - Bank anglers were catching some steelhead.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - No report on angling success. Nearly 100 boats were counted from Longview upstream during the Saturday Feb. 5 flight. About a 1/3 of the effort was found in the gorge.
Bonneville and The Dalles pools - Boat anglers were handling some legals last week. Bank angling was slow.
John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Light effort for walleye; none observed for bass.
The Dalles Pool - No effort observed for either bass or walleye.
John Day Pool - Boat anglers averaged nearly 1/3 walleye per rod when including fish released last week. No effort observed for bass.
Trout -
Klineline Pond - 126 bank anglers kept 67 rainbows and released 36.
Smelt -
Mainstem Columbia - Heavy numbers of seals/sealions observed from Cathlamet to Astoria during the Saturday Feb. 5 flight. 43 pounds of smelt was landed by two commercial fishers last week. Water temperature 41 degrees yesterday (Feb. 7) at Elliot Point, located downstream from Skamokawa.
Cowlitz River- No recent reports of any smelt.
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