Washington Sports Tax Sampling Preliminary Summary November 14-20, 2022
Tributaries of the Columbia River
Salmon/Steelhead:
Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 36 bank rods held a coho.
Cowlitz River Above I-5 Br – 38 bank rods held 14 coho and released a Chinook and 13 coho. 2 boats/4 rods kept three cohos and released nine cohos.
THE HAN BOYS GOT OUT IN LATE NOVEMBER 2020 TO LAND THIS COHO FROM THE COWLITZ RIVER. THEY WERE ON THE EGG DRIFT. (SHORE FISHING PHOTO COMPETITION)
Kalama River – 21 bank rods released a Chinook. 2 boats/4 rods had no catch.
Lewis River – 65 bank rods held five coho and released one coho. 6 boats/15 rods kept a coho.
Washougal – No report.
River of the Wind – No report.
Lake Drano – No report.
Klickitat River under the Fisher Hill Bridge – No report.
Klickitat River above fishway #5 – No report
Lower Hanford Reach Sport Fishing Update: November 20th
The Columbia River from the Interstate 182 bridge at Richland/Pasco upstream to the former City of Hanford power line crossing will remain open to fishing for salmon (chinook and coho) until December 31 this year. Last year, 2,701 adult coho were recovered in the adult trap at Ringold Springs Hatchery (September-December). Through November 17, 119 adult coho have been collected in the adult trap, well below last year’s numbers at this time. Based on last year’s return schedule, 480 adult coho are expected to return to the trap this year. Coho numbers were collected from late November to mid-December 2021. Trap collections are processed once a week, so we will post an update each week through December.
Fishing was slow last week. Cold weather and low yields are likely to blame. WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 2 boats and 18 bank anglers with 2 adult coho harvested and 1 adult chinook, 1 jack chinook, 1 adult coho, and 1 steelhead released. Based on the sampling information collected, the total harvest was 6 adult coho. Bank anglers averaged 8.2 hours per salmon.
It will close the Hanford Reach Steelhead fishery
Action: Close steelhead fishing and retention
Effective day: November 20, 2022, until further notice
Affected species: Steelhead
Location: I-182 Bridge (Richland/Pasco) upstream to the City of Old Hanford power line crossing
Reason for action: This year’s return of Ringold Springs Hatchery steelhead is projected to be the second-lowest return on record in the past 20 years. The return of steelhead will be needed for the hatcheries to meet the production goal of 180,000 juvenile steelhead planned for release in April 2024.