Cowlitz, Kalama are best bets during slow time for rivers

By Bob Brown | For The Olympian • Published March 12, 2009

Comments (0)

Of the few Western Washington rivers open to fishing, the Cowlitz and Kalama appear to be the best bets for steelhead this week.

Fishing hasn't been noteworthy in either river, but has been fairly decent at times. Moderate catches of steelhead and a few spring chinook are being caught in the upper Cowlitz and some steelhead in the lower river near Castle Rock.

The Kalama also is producing steelhead with the best catches coming from the Modrow Bridge down river.

The Olympic Peninsula's Hoh River is a likely prospect, but weather could be a debilitating factor.

Sturgeon, salmon and steelhead fishing continues to be slow in the lower Columbia. Boat anglers in The Dalles Pool are catching some walleye, but effort and catch has been light for bass. No effort has been observed for bass or walleye in Bonneville and John Day's pools.

Saltwater fishing has been fair in the Pleasant Harbor area of Hood Canal; slow in the Tacoma area and barely fair in the rest of Marine Areas open to fishing.

Coastal lingcod fishing opens Saturday in Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco), 2 (Westport/Ocean Shores) and 3 (La Push). The complete lingcod season will be listed in the 2009-2010 Fishing In Washington Sport Fishing Pamphlet available May 1.

The summer/fall chinook forecast for Puget Sound is 222,000 fish, which is slightly less than last year's forecast. Pat Pattillo, salmon policy coordinator for the Department of Fish and Wildlife said consideration of additional mark–selective fisheries for hatchery chinook in Puget Sound and ocean will be on the agenda during this year's North of Falcon meetings.

Mark–selective fisheries allow anglers to catch and keep hatchery salmon, but require the release of wild salmon marked with a missing adipose fin.

Anglers are reminded 2009 fishing licenses are required April 1 and are required for everyone 15 years of age or older.

Rivers

COWLITZ: Anglers are catching steelhead and a few spring chinook (which is probably a pilot run) at barrier dam and Blue Creek. The catching hasn't been smoking hot, but it has been steady with the best bite period being between noon and evening.

Next page >>