Southwest Washington Fishing Reports

2003 Report Archive
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WDFW Sport Sampling Results for February 3-9, 2003
Sport Sampling Summaries - PDF Format

Salmon/Steelhead -

Kalama River - High water and more slow fishing during the week of Jan. 26-Feb. 1. 24 bank anglers sampled kept 2 hatchery steelhead and released 1 hatchery and 1 wild steelhead. No boat anglers were sampled.

48 hatchery winter steelhead were recycled downstream on Feb. 3. Kress Lake received 20 adult hatchery steelhead on the same day.

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - 27 salmonid boats were counted from I-5 downstream on Saturday (Feb. 8). In addition, 27 anglers were counted along the Washington bank. No report on angling success.

Currently, the mainstem Columbia below the I-5 Bridge is open to fishing for adipose fin clipped chinook, adipose fin clipped steelhead, and shad. The season has been extended through May 15. The season may close sooner if the chinook impact levels are met.

Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers were catching some summer-run steelhead last week

Bonneville Pool is currently open to fishing for adipose fin clipped steelhead and shad. Beginning Feb. 15, Bonneville Pool from the Tower Island power lines (located 6 miles downstream from The Dalles Dam) upstream will be open to fishing for adipose fin clipped chinook. In addition, the Oregon bank from Bonneville Dam upstream will be open. Adipose fin clipped chinook and adipose fin clipped steelhead may be retained through May 15. The season may close sooner if the chinook impact levels are met.

The Dalles Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged a summer-run steelhead per rod while bank anglers averaged one per every 4.5 rods last week.

John Day Pool - Last week, boat anglers averaged a summer-run steelhead per rod while bank anglers averaged slightly better than ½ fish per rod when counting fish released.

The Dalles and John Day pools are currently open to fishing for adipose fin clipped steelhead and shad. Beginning Feb. 15, adipose fin clipped chinook may be kept. Adipose fin clipped chinook and adipose fin clipped steelhead may be retained through May 15. However, the season may close sooner if the chinook impacts are met.

OPI Columbia River coho preseason and postseason comparison for 2002
and forecasts for 2003 (ocean abundance)

2002 preseason forecast: 305,100
2002 postseason: 596,500

2003 preseason forecast: 817,900

Sturgeon -

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Last week, 16 bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam had kept 1 legal and released 3 sublegals. 24 boats sampled at Vancouver had kept 2 legals and released 85 sublegals.

Last Saturday (Feb. 8), 450 sturgeon boats were counted in the mainstem Columbia from the mouth upstream to Bonneville Dam. Most of the effort was found from Woodland upstream.

Washington and Oregon fish managers have agreed on a one-year Columbia River sturgeon sport harvest plan for 2003. From the Wauna power lines (at Puget Island/Cathlamet) upstream to Bonneville Dam, anglers will not be able to retain sturgeon March 24 through June 30. From the Wauna power lines downstream to Buoy 10, sturgeon may not be retained July 10 through September 30. Catch and release sturgeon angling may continue during the retention closures.

Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers averaged a legal kept per every 4.5 rods last week. Bank angling was slow for legal sized fish.

The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers averaged a legal kept per every 8 rods last week. Bank angling was slow.

John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged a legal per every 4.4 rods last week.

Walleye and Bass -

Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools - Boat anglers in Bonneville Pool had released some walleye. Other effort and catches were light.

Trout -

Klineline Pond - 192 bank anglers kept 121 catchable size rainbows and 3 brood trout plus released 205 catchables and 5 brood trout. Fly fishers are reported to be doing well. 1,000 half-pound rainbows were planted on Feb. 3.

Smelt -

Cowlitz River - No new reports currently available. Smelt reported to be in good abundance near Lexington/Rocky Point area late last week.

Lewis River - Smelt reported (though currently unconfirmed) to be in good numbers in the Lewis River.

Grays River - Some smelt reported in the Grays River too.

The daily bag limit for smelt in the Washington portion of the mainstem Columbia and its tributaries below Bonneville Dam is expected to be increased from the current 10 pounds to 20 pounds per person this week. No change in days/time open.

Fishing Rule Change Notice should be released today or tomorrow.

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