SW WA, Lower Columbia Fishing Report (3-5-24)
Late February and early March 2024 catch stats for the Lower Columbia and the Cowlitz River.
Northern $#%^#@ Pike Caught On San Juan Island
A teenage angler caught a northern pike at a pond on the west side of San Juan Island, and WDFW crews will gillnet the waters starting as early as next week to eradicate any others illegally introduced there.
WDFW To Hold Afternoon Smelt Dip On Cowlitz Next Week
WDFW reports that in-season monitoring shows this year’s Cowlitz smelt run is big enough to support another opener, but unlike mid-February’s Thursday morning dip, the one coming up Tuesday, March 5, will occur in the afternoon to try and “increase harvest opportunity.”
Springer Limits Reduced On 5 SW WA Rivers; Cowlitz Keepers Must Be Ad, Ventral Clipped
WDFW rolled out a host of spring Chinook rule changes this afternoon affecting Southwest Washington tributaries including the Cowlitz, Kalama, Wind, Drano and Klickitat.
New Study Looks At Northeast Washington Elk, Wolf, Lion, Human Interactions
A new paper on Northeast Washington elk, wolves and cougars will give hunters and local residents – themselves active participants in this dynamic interplay – some things to chew on.
Northwest Salmon Season-setting Process Kicks Off With Oregon Coast Forecasting
A new Columbia River hatchery coho forecasting model, new tule Chinook harvest matrix and more 2024 West Coast salmon predictions are being rolled out this week for public perusal.
Scappoose Bay Sturgeon Poachers Sentenced
It took awhile, but a Lower Columbia sturgeon poacher was sentenced to jail, fined and had his fishing license suspended for three years for attempting to retain an oversize fish, among other violations.
Biden Administration, WA, OR, 4 Tribes Sign Columbia Basin Commitments
The Biden Administration, states of Oregon and Washington and Nez Perce, Yakama, Warm Springs and Umatilla Tribes signed the Columbia Basin Commitments at a White House ceremony, putting into effect a court stay to work on Snake River salmon and steelhead restoration and other facets.
Washington Senate Passes Smelt, Carp, Crawfish Licensing Bill
A bill requiring a fishing license to dip for smelt on the Cowlitz and elsewhere in the state is one step closer to becoming law after being passed on a 49-0 vote in Washington’s Senate late this morning.
‘We Need A Helicopter … And We Need Someone With A Gun’: 911 Cougar Attack Call
More details on last Saturday’s cougar attack on a 60-year-old woman on an upper Snoqualmie Valley trail are coming out, including how fellow cyclists fought the animal and their desperate 911 call, and they make for tough reading.
WDFW Opens Comment On 3-year Hunting Proposals Package
Comment is open into late March on WDFW’s three-year hunting package proposals, routine but “in-depth” rulemaking, and this go-around the agency is looking for feedback on a raft of ideas, from general deer season regs to bighorn special permits, hunter orange/pink requirements to game and special management unit boundaries, gear rules to simple calendar date tweaks.
Public Hearing Held On Bill To Disband Washington Fish And Wildlife Commission
House Bill 2434 and its bid to disband the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission won’t go anywhere in Olympia this session, but this morning its prime sponsor certainly achieved his goal in introducing the “hand grenade.” A couple others went off as well.
2024 Lower Columbia, Gorge Pools Springer Season Set
“Although this run is smaller than the last few year’s returns, we are still able to provide some quality fishing opportunities,” said Ryan Lothrop, Columbia River fisheries manager with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We have an obligation to ensure the most limiting run, Snake River natural-origin spring Chinook listed under the Endangered Species Act, has adequate protection so future opportunities can still be possible.”
Washington State Report Reflects Positive Trends In Hunting, Angling
In the most recent edition of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation in Washington, a sweeping analysis of hunters, anglers and wildlife viewers put out by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, current trends are pointing to some interesting conclusions.
Washington Smelt Licensing Bill Sent To Floor Of Senate
As Washington smelt managers continue to test the Cowlitz this week to see if enough of the skinny little fish are running upstream to hold another opener – more on that below – a bill that would require dippers to have a fishing license advanced to the floor of the state Senate.
Areas 10, 11 Blackmouth To Open On Weds-Sat. Schedule Starting March 1
Blackmouth fishing off Seattle and Tacoma will be open Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays when season begins March 1, WDFW announced today.