Cowlitz River Steelhead Limit Increased

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Starting today, anglers may once again keep hatchery-reared chinook salmon they catch while fishing on the Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers in southwest Washington.

Also today, the catch limit for steelhead will increase to six hatchery steelhead per day on the Cowlitz and North Fork Lewis rivers.

Pat Frazier, regional fish manager for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), said fishing rules for those rivers can be liberalized now that it appears enough fish are returning to meet hatchery production goals.

"Spring chinook returns have been nip and tuck this year for some hatcheries," Frazier said. "But after a late surge of fish, it now appears that the hatcheries will get the fish they need for broodstock."

In recent weeks, anglers have been required to release any chinook salmon they caught on the Cowlitz, Kalama, and Lewis rivers in response to lagging returns.

Under the new rules, anglers will be able to retain six salmon – including two adults – per day on designated portions of those three rivers through July 31. On the Cowlitz River, however, only one of those two adult salmon may be a chinook.

All wild chinook and wild coho salmon, which can be identified by an intact adipose fin, must be released.

On the Cowlitz River, the new chinook-retention rules will be in effect from the boundary markers at the mouth to Mayfield Dam. On the Kalama River, anglers will be allowed to retain chinook salmon from the boundary markers at the mouth to the Kalama Falls Hatchery. In addition, chinook retention will be permitted from the mouth of the mainstem Lewis River to the mouth of the East Fork and from there to Merwin Dam on the North Fork Lewis River.

Frazier said hatcheries on the Cowlitz and North Fork Lewis rivers now have all the steelhead they need to meet egg-take goals, allowing fishery managers to increase daily catch limits for hatchery fish on those rivers. Through last week a thousand steelhead had returned each of the facilities on the Cowlitz and Lewis and more are on the way.

"Boat anglers are reportedly doing very well fishing for hatchery steelhead on both of those rivers, although bank angling is somewhat limited by high flows," Frazier said. "Steelhead fishing on the Cowlitz has been best around Blue Creek."

The new six-fish steelhead limit will be in effect on the lower Cowlitz River from the Highway 4 Bridge at Kelso upstream to Mayfield Dam. On the North Fork Lewis, it will be in effect from the Interstate 5 Bridge upstream to Merwin Dam.

Cowlitz River Summer Steelhead Fishing

July.......Cowlitz River Summer Steelhead Fishing with a 6 Fish Limit!!!!

 

 We are already seeing tons of these fish being caught on the Cowlitz and the run will peak this month.  Looking to catch your 6 fish limit of powerful, chrome bright summerruns? Then don't delay and call today to reserve your date. Stop wishing and lets go fishing for limits of chrome!!!

 

The Cowlitz has two distinct runs of  aggressive biting fish, "A" runs which are now in the river and "B" runs which show up later in the summer. The "A" run that is currently here now are 8 to 12 lb. fish destined for the hatchery at Blue Creek. "B"run's are larger fish 12 to 18 pounds and return to the Barrier Dam hatchery. Due to the Cowlitz River hatcheries seeing an abundance of steelhead return in the last few weeks, the limit has been increased to 6 fish per person. Lets go get 'em!

 

Currently we are catching an average of 6 to 10 fish a day and expect those number to increase into double digits by the 4th of July weekend. Several limits have been caught on various days freedrifting from Blue Creek to the I-5 Bridge. We are using Fetha Styx FSSH 961-2 ultra light spinning rods with Shimano Spinning reels loaded with 8 lb line. Freedrifting produces a fishing style that is very natural to the fish and drifts that are hundreds of yards long covering lots of holding water. Come experience the heart-pounding,  fast and intense fish catching action on these ultra light rods!

 

We are currently taking reservations for both morning and afternoon/evening trips on the Cowlitz. We will be fishing from 2 large roomy 25 foot Alumaweld Super Vee boats with 200 hp motors from Yamaha and Mercury. Prime dates are still available thru August 17th for Cowlitz River Steelhead.