Rivers
Columbia River anglers will get at least eight more days to catch hatchery-reared spring chinook salmon below Bonneville Dam under a decision announced today by fishery managers from Washington and Oregon.
The lower Columbia will reopen to fishing Friday, April 8, through Friday, April 15. Fishery managers will meet again April 14 to determine whether to allow additional fishing time.
Through April 4, anglers had caught and kept a total of 4,500 spring chinook. Approximately 3,800 were upriver fish, compared to a 7,700-fish harvest guideline for upriver chinook set at the beginning of the season.
Along with the eight additional fishing days, lower-river anglers could get another chance to catch spring chinook in May, once fishery managers update the run forecast. While the preseason forecast projected a return of 198,400 upriver fish, the fishery has been managed with a 30 percent “buffer” to guard against overestimating the run.
Read the press release here
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 10,003 coho adults, 402 jacks, 465 fall Chinook adults, 30 jacks, one chum salmon adult, 207 summer-run steelhead, seven winter-run steelhead and 82 sea-r
un cutthroat trout during seven days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
They released 809 coho adults and 91 jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at the Skate Creek Bridge in Packwood.
Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2010/11/12/1437644/angling-steady-plenty-of-elbow.html#ixzz158D3WmtS
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Starting this week, tanker trucks carrying adult chinook will make daily trips from the salmon hatchery to the release site above the dam, said Jim Scott, assistant director for WDFW’s Fish Program. The relocation effort, funded by Tacoma Power, is expected to continue into December.
By relocating some of those fish to the upper watershed, WDFW and its partners hope to rebuild a naturally spawning fall chinook population that has declined to marginal levels in recent decades, Frazier said.
“Sport fishing is definitely compatible with this effort,” said Pat Frazier, WDFW regional fish manager for southwest Washington. “While anglers might catch one in five of these fish, others will spawn naturally and help to create new generations of wild salmon.”
“Downstream collection will remain the toughest challenge to recovery,” said Dave Becker, a member and past president of Friends of the Cowlitz. “Nonetheless, the dream of using the upper watershed for the spawning and rearing of salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout is alive and well.”
Read the press release here.
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Due to extremely low numbers, 10 Coho have returned so far, the Puyallup tribe has halted fishing on the river. There should be between 350 and 600 Coho by now. If the escapement of 1000 to 1200 is met the tribe may consider opening it back up.
“Future fisheries depend on there being enough fish in the hatcheries each year,” said Chris Phinney, fisheries management biologist for the Puyallup Tribe.
As a South Sound fisherman I for one want to thank the tribe for their efforts to help with this weak return year.
Read the story here
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
WDFW is opening all tributaries of the Nisqually River above Alder Dam on June 5th. The reason for this is that the upper Nisqually River and it’s tributaries were left off the newly developed stream strategy. These openings are intended to allow opportunities consistent with the steam strategy.
Read the story here
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
So I heard about this new two pole endorsement the WDFW is offering this year, and I was considering getting it. After all who wouldn’t want to be able to fish different rigs while fishing alone. Learning of this conjured up images of the days when you could fish multiple poles and no one cared as long as you observed the limits.
My hopes were dashed though when I learned the two pole endorsement is not for saltwater or rivers in general. The two pole endorsement is only for select lakes with the potential of it maybe being used for surplus fish “WDFW is evaluating areas and times when surplus fish may be available for harvest and the two-pole option could be allowed.” In my opinion this is not enough hope to spend $25.00 on the endorsement.
I thought I better put this out in case others were caught by surprise also.
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Waters of the Columbia River adjacent to Ringold Springs Rearing Facility (RSRF) in Franklin Co. from the WDFW markers ¼ mile downstream of the Ringold irrigation wasteway outlet to the markers ½ mile upstream of Ringold Springs Creek (hatchery outlet).
The upriver spring chinook run size is now expected to be 340,000 compared to the preseason forecast of 470,000. Based on the current run size projection, the allowable catch of salmon has been achieved.
Read the Alert Here:
I expect to see a lot more of these kind of closures in the next few days. Yes they overestimated the run but I would rather that than having them underestimate and needlessly miss fishing opportunities.
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
The predicted return of 470,000 upriver spring chinook allows for expanded fishing opportunities in the Snake River within Washington. Expectations are for nearly 200,000 hatchery chinook to return to the Snake River.
All chinook with the adipose fin intact, and all steelhead, must be immediately released unharmed. chinook harvest or retention is limited to 2 adults and 4 jacks per day.
There are specific locations and some other restrictions and exceptions so please read the Rule Change before acting on this information.
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
The immediate area around the outlet of Drano Lake will be limited to fishing from the bank only beginning April 16. The anti-snag rule will no longer be in effect during the spring.
The bank fishing only area will be west of a line projected from the eastern most pillar of the Highway 14 Bridge to a posted marker on the north shore. The anti-snag rule will be removed from the entire area.
The remainder of Drano Lake will remain open to fishing from boats and the bank. The bank only area will be in place during the spring chinook fishery but not during the summer steelhead and fall salmon fisheries. The anti-snag rule will remain in effect during the fall.
From March 16 through June 30 the salmon and steelhead daily limits will be a total of 2 hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead or one of each. The night closure will still be in effect during the spring. Fishing will be closed Wednesdays from the second Wednesday in April through May.
Read the press release here.
Good Fishin’ To Ya’
Kerry W Allen
Good Fishin' To Ya'
Kerry W Allen
Gig Harbor Fly Shop
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