Southwest Washington
Fishing Reports
2002 Report Archive
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WDFW Sport Sampling Results:
May 12, 2003
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Southwest Washington |
Salmon/Steelhead -
Cowlitz River - Anglers continue to catch some hatchery spring chinook. Through May 7, a total of 1,488 hatchery spring chinook had returned to the salmon hatchery. Flows below Mayfield Dam were 5,090 cfs today.
Kalama River - Continues to produce hatchery spring chinook and some hatchery summer-run steelhead. Through May 7, a total of 162 hatchery spring chinook had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery.
Lewis River - No report on angling success last week. Through May 7, a total of 332 hatchery spring chinook had been collected at Merwin Dam. Another 500 fish were reported in the trap last weekend. Flows below Merwin Dam were 3,580 cfs today.
Wind River - Last week boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 5 rods. Bank anglers are catching fish in the gorge below Shipherd Falls and in the coffer dam area above Shipherd Falls. Most of the catch has been reported early in the morning. Water has been clear and cool. In addition, there has been little or no activity in the upper river although there have been some reports of fish caught at Milepost 7. Through May 7, a total of 45 spring chinook had returned to Carson National Fish Hatchery.
Drano Lake - Last week boat anglers averaged a chinook per every 3 rods. Through May 7, a total of 394 spring chinook had returned to the hatchery.
White Salmon River - No effort was observation there last weekend. Flows at Underwood were 1,200 cfs today.
Klickitat River - Effort and catches are high. Bank anglers averaged a chinook per every 2.5 rods last week. Some early limits were reported. Flows at Pitt were 1,790 cfs today.
Lower Columbia below the I-5 Bridge - Last week we sampled 732 salmonid anglers with 115 adult chinook caught (1 per every 6.4 rods). Boat anglers averaged an adult chinook per every 4.9 rods while bank anglers averaged one per every 11.7 rods. Best fishing was for boat anglers in the Cathlamet area with a fish per every 3 rods. Overall, 46% of the fish caught were hatchery fish. 49% of the hatchery fish kept were of lower river origin based on Visual Stock Identification.
Through May 11, nearly 6,500 jack spring chinook had been counted at Bonneville Dam. The 10 year average through that date is 3,700.
Upper Bonneville Pool - Light effort and catches for salmonids.
The Dalles Pool - Bank anglers are catching some spring chinook.
John Day Pool - Including fish released, bank anglers averaged a chinook per every 4.4 rods while boat anglers averaged one per every 9.7 rods.
This Wednesday and Thursday (May 14 and 15) are the last days to fish for adult spring chinook from Buoy 10 upstream to the I-5 Bridge and from the upper end of Bonneville Pool upstream to McNary Dam. Beginning Friday May 16, the mainstem Columbia from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to the I-5 Bridge will be open daily to fishing for hatchery chinook jacks and hatchery steelhead. In addition, fishing for shad will be open daily from Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam. Beginning June 16, fishing for hatchery chinook jacks and hatchery steelhead will be open from the I-5 Bridge upstream to the Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco.
Sturgeon -
Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Effort and catch is increasing in the estuary. Boat anglers at Deep River averaged a legal per every 5 rods last week.
Bonneville Pool - Anglers are catching some legals.
The Dalles Pool - No legals were observed in the sample last week. Through April 31, an estimated 216 of the 400 fish guideline (54%) had been taken.
John Day Pool - Slow for legal sized fish.
Walleye and Bass -
Bonneville Pool - Boat anglers averaged over 5 bass per rod last week. Light effort for bass.
The Dalles Pool - The few boat anglers sampled did very well on walleye last week, averaging 4 fish per rod. Bank anglers averaged over 3 bass per rod.
John Day Pool - Boat anglers averaged nearly a walleye and 3 bass per rod last week. Bank anglers were also catching some bass.
Trout -
Riffe Lake - Boat anglers sampled last week averaged 3 fish per rod. Bank anglers are also catching some fish. Catch is a mixture of landlocked coho, rainbows, chinook, cutthroat, and steelhead.
The lake was reported 18.9 feet below full pool today.
Mayfield Lake - Very little effort was observed there last week.
Klineline Pond - Continues to produce rainbows (including triploids) and some browns.
Plants of catchable size rainbows last week:
Kress Lake near Kalama - 4,515
Sacajawea Lake in Longview - 4,500
Horsethief Lake near Lyle - 4,515
Spearfish Lake near Dallesport - 4,500