SW WA, Buoy 10, Lower Columbia Fishing Reports (8-14-24)

UPDATE, 7:50 a.m., August 15, 2024: Last night, WDFW sent out revised catch figures for the Cowlitz River above I-5 and this report has been updated to reflect that.

THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORTS WERE FORWARDED BY WDFW

OREGON AND WASHINGTON DEPARTMENTS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
JOINT STAFF REPORT – FALL FACT SHEET NO. 2b
August 14, 2024

Buoy 10 and Mainstem Fall Recreational Salmon Fisheries 

• The Buoy 10 to west Puget Island (WPI) fishery is scheduled to be open August 1–29 for hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho retention, August 30 – September 3 for Chinook and hatchery coho, and September 4 – December 31 for hatchery coho. 

o Preliminary catch estimates through August 11 include 3,485 kept and 3,110 released Chinook, and 3,260 kept and 2,173 released coho from approximately 15,600 angler trips. 

• Fall recreational salmon fisheries from WPI upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA) also opened August 1. 

o WPI to Warrior Rock (WR) fishery is planned to remain open through September 4 for Chinook and hatchery coho retention, then be open September 5–11 for hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho retention, and October 1 – December 31 for hatchery coho retention. Preliminary estimates of catch and effort through August 11 include 482 kept and 18 released Chinook, zero kept and two released coho, and 354 released steelhead from approximately 4,600 angler trips. 

o WR to Bonneville Dam (BON) fishery is planned to remain open through September 15 for Chinook and hatchery coho retention and then be open October 1 – December 31 for coho retention. Preliminary estimates of catch and effort through August 11 include 169 kept and nine released Chinook, zero kept or released coho, and 103 released steelhead from approximately 2,700 angler trips. 

o BON upstream to Highway 395 Bridge (Pasco, WA) fishery is planned to remain open August 1 through September 15 for Chinook and coho retention and October 1 – December 31 for coho retention. Preliminary estimates of catch and effort through 3 August 11 include 120 Chinook kept and zero released Chinook, zero kept or released coho, and 103 released steelhead from approximately 1,100 angler trips.

Preliminary Lower Columbia River and Tributary Sport Summary – August 5-11, 2024

Fishery Reports: 

Lower Columbia River, Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam – 316 salmonid boats and 115 Washington bank rods were tallied during the flight count conducted Saturday (8/10). 

Mainstem Columbia River 

Salmon/Steelhead: 

Sec 1 (Bonneville) – 26 bank anglers released one steelhead. 3 boats/6 rods had no catch.

Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) – Five bank anglers had no catch. 5 boats/8 rods had no catch.

Sec 3 (I-5 area) – Three bank anglers had no catch. 4 boats/9 rods had no catch. 

Sec 4 (Vancouver) – 18 bank anglers kept two Chinook. 18 boats/45 rods kept four Chinook, and  released one jack and two steelhead. 

Sec 5 (Woodland) – 41 bank anglers kept two Chinook. 23 boats/47 rods kept one Chinook, and released one jack and one steelhead. 

Sec 6 (Kalama) – 144 bank anglers kept three Chinook and released one steelhead. 13 boats/33 rods  kept two Chinook and released one sub-legal sturgeon. 

Sec 7 (Cowlitz) – No bank effort reported. 17 boats/41 rods kept four Chinook, one jack, and released  one legal and two oversize sturgeon. 

Sec 8 (Longview) – 59 bank rods released one steelhead. 13 boats/26 rods kept two Chinook and  released one jack. 

Sec 9 (Cathlamet) – Three bank anglers had no catch. 9 boats/16 rods released four jacks and four  steelhead. 

Sec 10 (Cathlamet) – No report.  

Sturgeon: 

No report. 

Walleye: 

No report. 

Columbia River Tributaries 

Salmon/Steelhead:

Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 30 bank rods kept two steelhead.  

Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – 11 bank rods kept five steelhead. 13 boats/45 rods kept 42 steelhead.

Kalama River – Four bank rods kept two steelhead and released one steelhead. 2 boats/3 rods released  four steelhead. 

Lewis River – Three bank rods released one steelhead. 6 boats/13 rods kept one steelhead and released  one Chinook jack. 

Wind River – No report. 

Drano Lake – Six bank rods released five steelhead. 48 boats/124 rods kept 26 chinook, and released  two Chinook, 35 steelhead, one sockeye, and one sturgeon. 

Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge – No report.  

Klickitat River above #5 Fishway – No report.