Boats are bringing in limits of halibut on the coast

By Bob Brown | For The Olympian • Published May 08, 2008

Last week, spring chinook fishing in Columbia River tributaries was a real challenge and not very productive. And it’s not looking any better this week.

Joe Hymer, fish biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Vancouver office, said for the most part adult spring chinook catch rates for boat anglers in the Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis, Wind and Drano during the first week in May have been the lowest since at least 2001.

Catch rates during this time of the year can average up to 0.5 fish per rod. Sampling checks conducted last weekend by Washington and Oregon Fish and Wildlife personnel showed best spring chinook catch rates for both boat and bank anglers have been in The Dalles Pool downstream of John Day Dam.

Sturgeon fishing has been fair in the lower Columbia, and the first shad of the year was counted at Bonneville Dam on Monday. Boat anglers in Bonneville Pool have been catching some bass. Effort for walleye has been light.

Halibut fishing has been good at Westport, with most boats limiting with fish averaging 20 pounds. Bottom fishing also has been very productive with limits being had. Lowland lake fishing is on a roll with limits of trout being had in most waters.

RIVERS

COWLITZ: Some summer-run steelhead are being caught at Barrier Dam, Blue Creek and throughout the river, but spring chinook catches have been very light, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground.

Sampling checks last week showed boat anglers averaged one adult spring chinook every 23.5 rods while bank anglers averaged one every 37 rods.

Last week, 248 winter-run steelhead, 11 summer-run steelhead, 12 spring chinook adults, three spring chinook jacks and three cutthroat returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. Only 33 adult spring chinook returned to the hatchery through April. Under normal run timing with the forecast run size, there should be in excess of 500 adults arrived within the first few days of May.

Flows were 5,030 cubic feet per second Monday with a visibility of about 16 feet.