Columbia River fair for chinook opener

BOB BROWN, FOR THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Friday, March 22, 2002

Fishing for hatchery spring chinook on the Columbia River should improve after a fair opener last Saturday, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Effort by salmon anglers was heavy and the catch fairly good off the bank just below Bonneville Dam. About 150 bank anglers were there last Saturday. Bank angling effort also was high around Vancouver.

Approximately 182 anglers were counted on the Washington side of the river and about 300 more on the Oregon side.

Boat traffic also was heavy. Between Bonneville Dam and Longview the department counted 232 salmon boats.

Overall, fishers averaged one spring chinook kept or released per every 13.5 rods, said Joe Hymer, a biologist with the department's Vancouver office.

Hymer also said fishing should improve with clearer water below the Cowlitz River.

As of March 18, more than 1,000 spring chinook had passed over Bonneville Dam.

Rivers

- COWLITZ: Counting fish released, boaters at Blue Creek averaged nearly 1.5 steelhead per rod last week. Bank anglers also were catching fish at the barrier dam. Those fish averaged 8 to 12 pounds, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

A check March 11-17 from Mission Bar to the barrier counted 33 boaters with 37 steelhead kept and 11 released. Some spring chinook also have been reported caught at Longview and Kelso.

- OLYMPIC COAST: Bad weather has hurt fishing, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. The Hoh had been producing, but action slowed last weekend with the water becoming murky. Gooding expects fishing to pick up once the rivers clear.

- WIND: Boaters reportedly caught a couple of spring chinook last Saturday. Just a handful of boats were out over the weekend.

- DALLES, JOHN DAY POOLS: Including fish released, anglers in these Columbia river spots averaged one-third steelhead per rod last week.

- CHEHALIS: The river is fishable and anglers are catching some native fish, said Ray Dean of Monte Square Food Mart in Montesano.

- KALAMA: The river has been high, but is expected to be back in fishable shape by this weekend.

Saltwater

- TACOMA: Weather conditions put a near screeching halt to fishing last week, said Art Tachell of Point Defiance Boathouse & Marina. Few anglers have been out and those who have are reporting that blackmouth are biting softly and shaking hooks.

- HOOD CANAL: Some nice blackmouth have been caught between Frenchman Cove and Tekiu Point and also just south of Ayock Point, said Vicki Setera of Cushman Boats in Hoodsport. Trolling slowly near the bottom at depths of 100 to 120 feet has been effective. The fish have been hitting green Hotspot Flashers and cut-plug herring and green squid. Marine Area 12 closes to salmon fishing April 1.

Smelt

Smelt are back in the Cowlitz River.

Early this week, sport dippers were getting a few smelt per dip in the Carnival Market area and up to 5 pounds per dip at Rocky Point.

Sturgeon

In the Columbia River from Portland-to-Longview, last week most fishers were in the Kelly Point area. Boaters near Sauvie Island averaged .4 legal-sized sturgeon per boat. Fishing in the gorge was slightly better with boaters averaging .83 legals per boat. Weekend checks of 48 boats showed 38 legals kept, plus two legal, six oversize and 467 sublegals released. No bank anglers were checked.

Lakes

- LEWIS COUNTY: Boaters at Riffe Lake had some success on the south side of the island last week. Bank fishing was fair at the dam. For best results, fish about 10-to-12 feet below a bobber. Mossyrock Park boat launch is useable, but Taidnapaum launch is not.

At Mayfield Lake, things have been slow for boaters, but OK for bank fishers.

- CLARK COUNTY: Including fish released, bank fishers at Klineline Pond averaged nearly four fish per rod last week. The catches were a mixture of rainbow and brown trout. The pond recently was planted with 2,000 rainbows and 4,000 browns averaging about one-half pound each.

- THURSTON COUNTY: At Offut Lake, fishers caught some nice rainbows up to 14 inches last weekend. Try using pink PowerBait.

- PIERCE COUNTY: Weather has kept most fishers away from Spanaway Lake this week. Last Sunday, bank anglers reportedly caught a few planted fish weighing up to 2 pounds. Boaters also caught a few fish.

- MASON COUNTY: Last week, year-round lakes were producing some fish, but weather has slowed things down. There has been little angler activity, said Walt Harvey of Verle's Sports in Shelton.

Bob Brown is a correspondent for The Olympian. He can be reached at 754-5432.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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