Salmon/Steelhead

 

Grays River – Bank anglers downstream from the weir are catching some stray hatchery Select Area Bright fall Chinook. 

 

Cowlitz River – Boat anglers on the lower Cowlitz are catching some fall Chinook.

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 236 fall Chinook adults, 17 jacks, 176 summer-run steelhead, 132 spring Chinook adults, eight jacks, 27 mini-jacks, 13 coho salmon, one jack, one sockeye salmon and nine sea-run cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

Tacoma Power employees released 82 spring Chinook adults and five jacks into the Cispus River, 27 spring Chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park, 39 spring Chinook adults, two jacks, and four coho into Lake Scanewa and 234 fall Chinook adults, 17 jacks, and two coho salmon into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton during the week.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 3,590 cubic feet per second on Tuesday, September 7, 2010. Water visibility is 12 feet.

Kalama River – Generally light effort and catch.

 

Lewis River – Bank anglers near the salmon hatchery are catching some coho and steelhead.

 

Cedar Creek (North Fork Lewis tributary) - Closed to all fishing in September and October. 

 

Washougal River – Pretty good effort but light catches of fall Chinook on the lower river.

 

Lacamas Creek (Washougal River tributary) from footbridge at lower falls downstream - Closed to all fishing beginning in September.

 

Drano Lake – Effort and catch has decreased though boat anglers are still catching some fall Chinook and steelhead.   Steelhead appear to be headed  up the Columbia based upon the 7,000-8,000 fish counted daily the past few days at The Dalles Dam. 

 

White Salmon River – Bank anglers are catching some steelhead.

 

Klickitat River – Bank and boat anglers on the lower river are catching fall Chinook.

 

Buoy 10 – During the first full week of September private and charter boat anglers averaged a coho kept per every 9 rods at the ports of Chinook and Ilwaco.

 

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - During the first five days of September we sampled 465 salmonid bank anglers from Bonneville Dam downstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line with 46 adult and 1 jack fall Chinook and 10 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 8.2 rods based on mainly incomplete trips. In addition, we sampled 1,541 salmonid boat anglers (680 boats) with 458 adult and 15 jack fall Chinook, 19 adult coho, and 10 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 3.1 rods based on mainly completed trips.  

 

“Only” 1,400 salmonid boats were counted during the Saturday September 4 effort flight count. 

 

Beginning September 12, chinook retention will be prohibited from the Tongue Point/Rocky Point Line upstream to a line projected from Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to Red Buoy #4 to the orange marker atop the dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island. 

This area remains open for hatchery coho, hatchery steelhead, and hatchery sea-run cutthroats. 

 

Bonneville Pool – Boat anglers at the mouth of the tributaries are catching some fall Chinook and steelhead.

 

Hanford Reach - WDFW staff sampled 48 boats/117 anglers with 20 fall chinook and 5 steelhead during the holiday weekend.
Effective September 4, steelhead may be retained from the 395 Bridge in Pasco upstream to Priest Rapids Dam.  Daily limit 2 hatchery steelhead with a mandatory retention rule in effect.

 

 

Sturgeon

 

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Light effort; no sturgeon anglers were sampled.    The area from Marker #82 upstream to the sturgeon deadline below Bonneville Dam is now open for catch-and-release. 

 

 

Walleye

 

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area averaged nearly a walleye per rod when counting fish released.   

Salmon/Steelhead

 

Cowlitz River – Light effort and catch by boat anglers on the lower river. 

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 183 summer-run steelhead, 49 spring Chinook adults, four jacks, 33 mini-jacks, 40 fall Chinook adults, six jacks, one coho salmon, two sockeye salmon, two chum salmon and eight sea-run cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

Tacoma Power employees released 45 spring Chinook adults and four jacks into the Cispus River, 30 spring Chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park, and 40 fall Chinook adults, five jacks and one coho salmon into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton during the week.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 4,760 cubic feet per second on Monday August 30. Water visibility is 14 feet.

 

Drano Lake and the White Salmon River – Boat anglers are catching some steelhead.

 

Buoy 10 –

·         Chinook catch through August 29 totals 6,459 Chinook and 6,388 coho.  This catch represents 52% of the Chinook allocation and 54% of the coho allocation.

·         Catch projections for the final two days (August 30-31) include 500 Chinook and 800 coho).  This would bring the total catch projection for Buoy 10 to 55% of the Chinook allocation and 61% of the coho allocation through August 31.

·         Stock composition based on preliminary CWT data suggests that about 3,500 (56% of total catch) Lower River hatchery (LRH) stock fish have been harvested in Buoy 10, compared to a preseason expectation of 2,900 (23% of expected catch).

 

Although allowable total Chinook catch remains on the Chinook quota for Buoy 10, LRH impacts appear to have exceeded expectations so far.  Therefore, the fishery will close for Chinook retention as scheduled effective Wednesday September 1.  The fishery remains open for hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead as outlined in the current “Fishing in Washington” pamphlet.

 

Lower Columbia mainstem from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam - We sampled 1,149 salmonid bank anglers from Bonneville Dam downstream with 101 adult and 4 jack fall Chinook and 64 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 6.8 rods based on mainly incomplete trips. In addition, we sampled 2,529 salmonid boat anglers (1,065 boats) with 505 adult and 13 jack fall Chinook, 5 adult coho, and 33 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 4.5 rods based on mainly completed trips.  

 

·         August Chinook catch has been less than expected, with 1,000 Chinook kept from 25,000 angler trips through August 22.

·         Effort began to increase substantially last week, with 800 boats counted on August 25 and 1,500 on August 28.  Catch rates for last week were around 0.3 Chinook per angler trip.  Angler effort and catch rates are expected to continue to increase over the coming weeks.

 

Fall Chinook Stock Status Update:  Fall Chinook passage at Bonneville Dam totals 63,649 adult through August 29.  Passage is typically 50% complete on September 7.  To date, 82% of the adult passage is bright stock.

At this time, it appears Chinook passage is tracking below expectations for both tule and bright stock fish.  Expectations include a total passage of 97,700 adults by August 29, with 71% bright stock fish.  The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) TAC will meet next week to review stock status.

 

Bonneville Pool – Boat anglers at the mouth of the tributaries are catching fall chinook and some steelhead. 

 

Sturgeon

 

Lower Columbia from the mouth to Marker 82 - Light effort and catch.  Only 7 boats and no bank anglers were counted during the Saturday August 28 effort flight count.  No legals were found in the few boats sampled in the Camas/Washougal area; however, some salmonid anglers are catching a few incidental sturgeon.

 

Walleye

 

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area are catching some walleye.         

 

 

 

Salmon/Steelhead

 

Lower portions of Abernathy, Coal, Germany, Mill creeks near Longview and Coweeman River:  Under permanent rules, closed to all fishing in September and October to protect naturally spawning fall chinook.  Coweeman River from Mulholland Creek upstream closes to all fishing September 1 for the same reason. 

 

New for 2010:  The lower portion of Cedar Creek (North Fork Lewis River tributary) from the Grist Mill Bridge downstream and Lacamas Creek (tributary to the Washougal River) from the foot bridge at lower falls downstream are closed to fishing in September and October to protect naturally spawning fall chinook and coho.  In addition, stream flows are increased on Lacamas Creek  in the fall when the water behind Round/Lacamas lakes is lowered for annual maintenance on the dam.  This increase in flows sometimes attracts fall Chinook to the creek.  The upper portion of Cedar Creek also closes to fishing September 1.   

 

Cougar Creek (tributary to Yale Reservoir) – Under permanent rule, closes to fishing beginning September 1 to protect naturally spawning kokanee.    

 

Toutle River – No report on angling success.  Anti-snagging rule and night closure begins September 1 on the North Fork Toutle River from confluence with South Fork to mouth of the Green River and the Green River from mouth to 400 feet below salmon hatchery rack. 

 

The first couple fall chinook of the season had returned to the hatchery last week. 

Cowlitz River – Some steelhead are being caught by boat anglers in the lower river.  The first fall chinook of the season had arrived at the salmon hatchery last week and three dozen sea-run cutthroat have returned to date. 

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 382 summer-run steelhead, 316 spring Chinook adults, 42 jacks, 65 mini-jacks, five fall Chinook adults, two jacks, one sockeye salmon and 14 sea-run cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

Tacoma Power employees released 216 spring Chinook adults and 12 jacks into the Cispus River, 78 spring Chinook adults and 18 jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge in Packwood, 60 spring Chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park, and five fall Chinook adults and one jack into Mayfield Lake at the Ike Kinswa boat launch the during the week.  Mayfield Lake opens to fishing for salmon September 1. 

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 4,780 cubic feet per second on Monday August 23. Water visibility is 12 feet.

Kalama River – No effort on the lowest part of the river last week.  The first few coho of the season had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery last week.    

Lewis River – No report on angling success.  The first four hatchery coho of the season had returned to the Merwin Dam trap last week. 

Wind River – Bank and boat anglers at the mouth are catching some steelhead.

Drano Lake – Eighty percent of the anglers sampled had caught a steelhead.  About two-thirds of the fish caught were kept.  Some fall chinook are also being caught.  About 80 boats observed here last Saturday morning.

White Salmon River – Both boat and bank anglers are catching some steelhead.

Buoy 10 – One of every 3 private boat anglers sampled at the ports of Chinook and Ilwaco/Fort Canby had caught a salmon.  Catch was tilted  slightly towards coho than chinook.  Chinook retention is expected to be allowed through the end of the month.    

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam – Chinook catches have picked up while steelhead catches have dropped off.  Last week we sampled 776 salmonid bank anglers with 20 adult and 1 jack fall Chinook and 62 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 9.3 rods based on mainly incomplete trips. In addition, we sampled 696 salmonid boat anglers (335 boats) with 66 adult and 1 jack fall Chinook and 50 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 5.9 rods based on mainly completed trips.  Overall, 71% of the steelhead caught were kept.  We again did not sample any coho.

 

From August 1-15, there have been an estimated 13,900 angler trips with 182 adult fall chinook and 2,699 steelhead kept and 1,476 steelhead released.  The total catch expectation for chinook for the entire season is 17,200 fish. 

Bonneville Pool – Boat anglers at the mouths of the tributaries are catching some fall chinook. 

Hanford Reach - During the first three weeks of sampling the Reach WDFW staff sampled a total of 7 days. Ten boats and 23 anglers were sampled during that time with 1 Chinook retained and 7 Steelhead released. Expanded catch data will be reported weekly starting next week.

Sturgeon

Lower Columbia from mouth to Marker 82 – Light effort during the current catch-and-release only fishery.

McNary Dam to Priest Rapids Dam – Catch-and-release only through January 31. 

 

Walleye

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam – Boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area averaged just over a walleye each. 

 

 

 

Salmon/Steelhead

 

Cowlitz River – Light effort and catch by boat anglers on the lower river. 

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 183 summer-run steelhead, 49 spring Chinook adults, four jacks, 33 mini-jacks, 40 fall Chinook adults, six jacks, one coho salmon, two sockeye salmon, two chum salmon and eight sea-run cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

Tacoma Power employees released 45 spring Chinook adults and four jacks into the Cispus River, 30 spring Chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park, and 40 fall Chinook adults, five jacks and one coho salmon into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton during the week.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 4,760 cubic feet per second on Monday August 30. Water visibility is 14 feet.

 

Drano Lake and the White Salmon River – Boat anglers are catching some steelhead.

 

Buoy 10 –

·         Chinook catch through August 29 totals 6,459 Chinook and 6,388 coho.  This catch represents 52% of the Chinook allocation and 54% of the coho allocation.

·         Catch projections for the final two days (August 30-31) include 500 Chinook and 800 coho).  This would bring the total catch projection for Buoy 10 to 55% of the Chinook allocation and 61% of the coho allocation through August 31.

·         Stock composition based on preliminary CWT data suggests that about 3,500 (56% of total catch) Lower River hatchery (LRH) stock fish have been harvested in Buoy 10, compared to a preseason expectation of 2,900 (23% of expected catch).

 

Although allowable total Chinook catch remains on the Chinook quota for Buoy 10, LRH impacts appear to have exceeded expectations so far.  Therefore, the fishery will close for Chinook retention as scheduled effective Wednesday September 1.  The fishery remains open for hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead as outlined in the current “Fishing in Washington” pamphlet.

 

Lower Columbia mainstem from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam - We sampled 1,149 salmonid bank anglers from Bonneville Dam downstream with 101 adult and 4 jack fall Chinook and 64 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 6.8 rods based on mainly incomplete trips. In addition, we sampled 2,529 salmonid boat anglers (1,065 boats) with 505 adult and 13 jack fall Chinook, 5 adult coho, and 33 steelhead, an average of a salmonid kept/released per every 4.5 rods based on mainly completed trips.  

 

·         August Chinook catch has been less than expected, with 1,000 Chinook kept from 25,000 angler trips through August 22.

·         Effort began to increase substantially last week, with 800 boats counted on August 25 and 1,500 on August 28.  Catch rates for last week were around 0.3 Chinook per angler trip.  Angler effort and catch rates are expected to continue to increase over the coming weeks.

 

Fall Chinook Stock Status Update:  Fall Chinook passage at Bonneville Dam totals 63,649 adult through August 29.  Passage is typically 50% complete on September 7.  To date, 82% of the adult passage is bright stock.

At this time, it appears Chinook passage is tracking below expectations for both tule and bright stock fish.  Expectations include a total passage of 97,700 adults by August 29, with 71% bright stock fish.  The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) TAC will meet next week to review stock status.

 

Bonneville Pool – Boat anglers at the mouth of the tributaries are catching fall chinook and some steelhead. 

 

Sturgeon

 

Lower Columbia from the mouth to Marker 82 - Light effort and catch.  Only 7 boats and no bank anglers were counted during the Saturday August 28 effort flight count.  No legals were found in the few boats sampled in the Camas/Washougal area; however, some salmonid anglers are catching a few incidental sturgeon.

 

Walleye

 

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers in the Camas/Washougal area are catching some walleye.