WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
June 26, 2005
 |
Latest
Southwest Washington |
Charter boat anglers averaged 0.39 legals kept per rod while private boat anglers averaged 0.16 per rod. Last year during the same period charter boat anglers averaged 0.85 legal white sturgeon kept per rod while private boat anglers averaged 0.21 per rod.
374 private and 26 charter boats were counted during the Sunday June 26 flight. On Sunday June 27, 2004, a total of 313 private and 21 charters were counted.
Salmon/Steelhead -
A Joint State Hearing (via telephone) is scheduled June 28 at 1 p.m. to discuss the on-going mainstem sport chinook fishery.
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - We sampled 862 salmonid anglers with 72 chinook kept/released. Boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 10.1 rods based on completed trips while bank anglers averaged one per every 13.6 rods based mainly on incomplete trips. Overall, 49% of the chinook caught were hatchery fish.
One of the highest catch rates was at Kalama Bar. Bank anglers have been arriving as early as 2:30 AM to reserve a spot.
Summer steelhead angling is best from Longview downstream. Bank anglers in the Cathlamet area had highest catch rates, a fish for every 3 rods based on mainly incomplete trips.
Bonneville Pool - Light salmonid effort. Most effort is for Northern Pike Minnow, walleye, and oversized sturgeon.
The Dalles Pool - Bank anglers averaged a chinook kept/released per every 7 rods. Half he chinook caught were hatchery fish. No boats were sampled.
John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some chinook. Light boat effort.
Sturgeon -
Deep River/Knappton ramps - Boat anglers averaged 0.43 legals kept per rod based on completed trips.
The Joint State Hearing will also discuss the on-going sturgeon sport fishery in the Columbia estuary.
Wauna Powerlines upstream to Beacon Rock - Some legals are being caught throughout the river. Overall, boat anglers averaged a legal kept per every 12.8 rods based on completed trips.
The Dalles Pool - Closed to sturgeon retention through the end of the year. Catch and release angling is allowed.
John Day Pool - Boat anglers are catching some legals. Fishing is slow from the bank.