Catch steelhead until sturgeon season reopens July 10

Fishing report

By Bob Brown | For The Olympian • Published July 03, 2008

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Sturgeon fishing is scheduled to reopen in the Columbia River estuary next week.

Retention of legal-size sturgeon will be allowed July 10-12, July 17-19 and July 26-27 from the mouth of the Columbia to the Wauna power lines.

The fishery closed June 25, leaving about 4,200 sturgeon remaining from the 2008 harvest guideline of 13,140 fish.

Brad James, Department of Fish and Wildlife fish biologist, said sturgeon fishing was very good during the last week of the season, but it started off slow, which left room for some extra fishing days.

A joint Washington-Oregon hearing is scheduled for July 22 to discuss ongoing sturgeon sport fishing in the lower Columbia.

Anglers are reminded that use of more than one single point barbless hook is prohibited.

Summer chinook fishing between Bonneville Dam and the U.S. Highway 395 bridge in Pasco closed Monday, but anglers still can retain sockeye from Rocky Point up to the U.S. 395 bridge through Sunday.

Hatchery steelhead fishing remains open through Dec. 31.

Steelhead fishing has been excellent in the Cowlitz River at Blue Creek and the barrier dam despite high flows. Steelhead fishing has been good in the Lewis and Kalama rivers. A few bright and dark salmon also are being caught in the Kalama.

Salmon fishing has been slow on the Olympic Peninsula because of erratic water levels.

Pikeminnow fishing continues to be very good throughout the Columbia River. Excellent catches of pikeminnows happened last week at Boyer Park, Columbia Point and Cathlamet.

Shad fishing has been fair below Bonneville Dam. Bass fishing has been slow.

Saltwater salmon fishing has been slow in Tacoma waters. It has been much better at Westport and Ilwaco.

Sekiu anglers have been averaging nearly 0.5 halibut per rod.

Lake fishing has been mixed in recent days. Trout fishing has slowed in a number of area lakes because of high water temperatures.

Fishing for perch, bluegill and crappie has been good.

Rivers

PUYALLUP: Fishing for trout opened Monday from the 11th Street bridge to the Carbon River and from the Carbon River to the Electron Power Plant outlet. The minimum size is 14 inches, with a daily limit of two fish. A catch-and-release fishery also opened for all game fish from the Electron Power Plant outlet upstream. Selective gear rules are in effect.