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

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

Preliminary Washington tributary sport sampling summary November 14-20, 2022

Columbia River Tributaries 

Salmon/Steelhead: 

Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 36 bank rods kept one coho.  

Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – 38 bank rods kept 14 coho and released one Chinook and 13 coho. 2  boats/4 rods kept three coho and released nine coho.  

Kalama River – 21 bank rods released one Chinook. 2 boats/4 rods had no catch.

Lewis River – 65 bank rods kept five coho and released one coho. 6 boats/15 rods kept one coho.

Washougal – No report. 

Wind River – No report. 

Drano Lake – No report. 

Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge – No report.  

Klickitat River above #5 Fishway – No report.

Lower Hanford Reach Sport Fishery Update: November 20

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 17, 119 adult coho have been collected at the adult trap, much lower than last years collections at this time. Based on last year’s return timing 480 adult coho are expected to return to the trap this year. Coho numbers picked up in late November through mid-December in 2021. The trap collections are processed once per week so we will post an update each week through December.

Fishing was slow this past week. Cold weather and low returns are likely to blame. WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 2 boats and 18 bank anglers with 2 adult coho harvested, and 1 adult chinook, 1 jack chinook, 1 adult coho, and 1 steelhead released. Based on sampling information collected, the total harvest was 6 adult coho. Bank anglers averaged 8.2 hours per salmon.

Hanford Reach steelhead fishery to close

Action: Closes steelhead fishing and retention

Effective date: Nov. 20, 2022, until further notice

Species affected: Steelhead

Location: I-182 Bridge (Richland/Pasco) upstream to the Old Hanford townsite powerline crossing

Reason for action: This year’s return of Ringold Springs Hatchery steelhead is projected to be the second lowest return on record in the past 20 years. Returning steelhead will be needed for broodstock to meet the production goal of 180,000 juvenile steelhead scheduled for release in April 2024.

Additional information: Anglers can be notified of in-season rule changes by downloading the FishWA app or signing up for fishery change notifications by email at https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/lists.