SW WA, Hanford Reach Fishing Report (11-15-22)

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

Preliminary Washington tributary sport sampling summary November 7-13, 2022

Salmon/Steelhead: 

Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 19 bank rods kept two coho. 4 boats/12 rods kept two coho. 

Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – No report.  

Kalama River – 36 bank rods kept eight coho and released one coho. 9 boats/19 rods kept 10 coho, one  steelhead and released one Chinook and one coho. 

Lewis River – 49 bank rods kept nine coho and released two Chinook and three coho. 14 boats/37 rods  kept six Chinook, 12 coho and released one Chinook and six coho. 

Washougal – No report. 

Wind River – No report. 

Drano Lake – No report. 

Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge – 56 bank rods kept one Chinook, 51 coho, eight coho jacks and  released seven coho.  

Klickitat River above #5 Fishway – No report.

Lower Hanford Reach Sport Fishery Update for November 14

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. Last year 2,701 adult coho were recovered at the Ringold Springs Hatchery adult trap (Sept-Dec). Through November 10, 99 adult coho have been collected, much lower than last years collections at this time. Based on last years return timing a total of 647 adult coho are expected to return to the trap this year. On a positive note only 26 adult coho were harvested in November in 2021, whereas, 71 adult coho have been harvested through November 13 this year. The trap collections are processed once per week so we will have an update again next week.

Fishing was very spotty this past week. WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 7 boats (14 anglers) and 69 bank anglers with 5 adult chinook, 2 jack chinook, 9 adult coho, and 3 coho jacks harvested. Based on sampling information collected, the total harvest in the Reach for this past week was 9 adult chinook, 10 jack chinook, 23 adult coho, and 5 coho jacks.  Boat anglers averaged 9.5 hours per fish. Bank anglers averaged 10.9 hours per salmon. Coho are nice size running up to 30inches.