WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
February 27 - March 5, 2006
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Latest
Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Some steelhead are being caught around Olequa and Blue creeks.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 43 winter-run steelhead during four days of separator operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Tacoma Power employees released 33 winter-run steelhead into the upper Cowlitz River system at Lake Scanewa Day Use Park during the week. During the week Tacoma Power employees recycled five winter-run steelhead downstream to the Interstate-5 boat launch and a total of eight winter-run steelhead were released into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton, Washington.River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 6,060 cubic feet per second on Monday, March 6. Water visibility is 6 feet. Lewis River - Some hatchery spring chinook and wild winter run steelhead are being caught around the salmon hatchery. Since March 1, flows below Merwin Dam have been around 5,800 cfs. Lower Columbia from the I-5 Bridge downstream - Effort is increasing and there was some chinook catch observed in the Woodland area over the weekend.
During the Saturday March 4 flight, ODFW counted 219 salmonid boats and 151 Oregon and 33 Washington bank anglers. Boat effort was scattered from Cathlamet to Vancouver. The effort was similar to the Saturday flight in late February 2005.
We sampled 271 salmonid anglers with 2 chinook and 2 steelhead kept. Both chinook were lower river stock based on Visual Stock Identification. Catch rates were similar to those found during the first week of March 2005.
Bonneville Pool - No effort observed for salmonids.
The Dalles Pool - Bank and boat anglers averaged about a steelhead per rod. Catch was about 50:50 hatchery to wild fish.
John Day Pool - Bank anglers are catching some steelhead. No effort observed for boats.
Ringold - Light effort in February as is typical. A total of 91 steelhead caught, 53 harvested, with 3 wild steelhead caught and released. Catch was similar to 2004 and well below 2003. Anglers averaged about 11.5 hours per fish in February. Catch and harvest remains well below that of 2003 and 2004 seasons.
Kalama River - Good flow levels for boat and bank anglers. Good fishing for wild and hatchery winter brood steelhead. Most are fresh bright fish with the catch comprising mostly of wild fish (about 85% wild and 15% hathery). A few spring chinook have also been harvested.
No fish were handled on Friday (3/3) and on Monday (3/6) - 99 wild winter steelhead were passed upstream of KFH and 16 hatchery winter brood steelhead were recycled to the lower river (BHP boat ramp). To date 425 wild winter steelhead have been passed upstream of KFH!!!
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Lots of effort out last Saturday March 4 (derby). Slow for legal size fish.
Bonneville Pool - Bank and boat anglers are catching some legals. Through February 26, an estimated 85 (12%) of the 700 fish guideline had been taken.
The Dalles Pool - Slow for legal size fish. An estimated 34 (34%) of the 100 fish guideline had been taken through February 26.
John Day Pool - Slow for legal size fish. None of the 165 guideline had been taken through February 26.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers are catching some walleye and bass.
The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers averaged about ½ walleye per rod when including fish released. Bank anglers were also catching some walleye. No bass were observed caught.
John Day Pool - Including fish released, boat anglers averaged slightly better than a walleye per every 3 rods. Boat anglers are catching some bass.
Trout -
No report.
Smelt -
Mainstem Columbia - No new reports of any commercial landings. Water temp has warmed with a reading of over 42 degrees at Cathlamet today.
Cowlitz River - No new reports. Flows at Castle Rock were 9,200 cfs this morning which is just below the long-term mean for this date.
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