Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River – Summer run steelhead catches are improving around Blue Creek. The first Cowlitz coho of the fall has returned to the salmon hatchery.
Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 405 summer-run steelhead adults, 83 spring Chinook adults, 18 jacks, 223 Chinook mini-jacks, one coho salmon adult, three sockeye and one chum salmon during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the week Tacoma Power employees released 22 spring Chinook adults, 16 jacks and one coho salmon into the Cispus River above the mouth of Yellow Jacket Creek, and 202 spring Chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park.
Through July a total of 1,890 hatchery summer run steelhead had returned to the salmon hatchery. In comparison, 4,308 fish had returned at this time last year.
River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 3,180 cubic feet per second with a visibility of over 13 feet on Monday, August 3.
Kalama River – No report on angling success. A half dozen fall Chinook have return to the traps to date. In addition, 1,615 hatchery and 174 wild summer run steelhead had returned to Kalama Falls Hatchery through July. This compares to 781 hatchery and 155 wild fish at the same time last year.
Lewis River – No report on angling success. A total of 2,314 hatchery summer run steelhead had returned to the trap at Merwin Dam through July. This compares to 5,096 fish at the same time last year.
Wind River – Boat anglers are catching some steelhead. There were a handful of boats here yesterday (Sunday Aug. 2).
Drano Lake – Including fish released, boat anglers averaged nearly a steelhead per rod. About 45 boats were observed here yesterday.
White Salmon River – Boat and bank anglers are catching some steelhead. Approximately 25 watercraft were found here yesterday.
Buoy 10 – Slow on Saturday's opener though some coho were reported caught yesterday.
Lower Columbia from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam – From July 27-31 we sampled 465 bank anglers with 101 steelhead and 1 jack Chinook. In addition, we sampled 64 boat anglers (30 boats) with 23 steelhead. Just over 60% of the steelhead caught were kept.
The lower Columbia is very low and warm. At Bonneville Dam yesterday, average flows were 137,000 cfs and water temp 74 degrees. The recent 10-year average is 158,600 cfs and 70 degrees.
This year's steelhead counts at Bonneville Dam are very similar to this time last year – 140,731 vs 147,970 fish, respectively.
Bonneville and The Dalles pools – Boat anglers in Bonneville Pool and bank anglers in The Dalles Pool are catching some Chinook and steelhead.
John Day Pool – No effort for salmonids was found there last week.
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia from the mouth to the Wauna powerlines – Catch and release through the end of the year.
Lower Columbia from the Wauna powerlines to Bonneville Dam – Catch and released through September.
Walleye and Bass
John Day Pool – Including fish released, boat anglers averaged over 1.5 walleye and 4 bass per rod. The majority of the walleye were kept.
Trout
Last week Council and Takhlakh lakes were planted with 3,768 and 4,023 catchable size rainbows, respectively.
Skate Creek and the Tilton River – Both are scheduled to be planted with two thousand catchable size rainbows this week.
Best Regards,
Capt. Jerry Brown
Columbia River Fishing
http://www.columbia-river-fishing-guide.com
206-920-2428
