SW WA, Lower Hanford Reach Fishing Report (11-8-22)

THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORTS WERE FORWARDED BY BRYANT SPELLMAN AND PAUL HOFFARTH, WDFW

Preliminary Washington tributary sport sampling summary November 1-6, 2022

Columbia River Tributaries 

Salmon/Steelhead: 

Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 32 bank rods kept one coho. 1 boat/2 rods had no catch.  

Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – 38 bank rods kept three coho, one coho jack, two steelhead and  released four Chinook and three coho. 3 boats/8 rods kept one coho and released two coho.  

Kalama River – 19 bank rods kept four coho and released one Chinook and one steelhead.  

Lewis River – 45 bank rods kept one Chinook, 29 coho and released five Chinook and one coho. 2 boats/3 rods kept two coho. 

Washougal – Four bank anglers released two Chinook. 

Wind River – No report. 

Drano Lake – No report. 

Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge – 43 bank rods kept two Chinook, 14 coho and released five Chinook and one coho.  

Klickitat River above #5 Fishway – No report.

Lower Hanford Reach Sport Fishery Update for November 7

The Columbia River from the Interstate 182 bridge in Richland/Pasco upstream to the old Hanford townsite powerline crossing will remain open to fishing for salmon (chinook & coho) through December 31 this year.

Very few chinook are being caught this late in the return but the coho harvest is beginning to pick up in the Ringold Springs Hatchery area. WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 22 boats (48 anglers) and 34 bank anglers with 6 adult chinook, 1 jack, and 1 coho harvested. Based on sampling information collected, the total harvest in the Reach for this past week was 21 adult chinook, 48 adult coho, and 23 coho jacks.  Boat anglers averaged 35 hours per fish. Bank anglers averaged 7.2 hours per salmon.