White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam, but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing.
Effective Jan. 1, 2018: Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools will be open to retention of white sturgeon until quotas are reached (under permanent regulations).
Walleye should be available in The Dalles and John Day pools when the weather allows anglers to get out on the water.
A few winter steelhead should be available for anglers plunking from the beaches on the lower Columbia River.
Salmon/Steelhead
The first Chinook of the year crossed over Bonneville Dam this last week, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. There is a possibility that it was a late fall fish, but it may just be the first spring Chinook of the year to cross the dam.
The salmonid creel program on the lower Columbia has ended for the year and will resume in February.
Cowlitz River, from the I-5 bridge, downstream: Five bank rods had no catch. Upstream from the I-5 bridge: Five bank rods released four cutthroats. No boats were sampled.
Bonneville Dam upstream to McNary Dam –No effort was observed for steelhead.
Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement Creel Summary:
Elochoman River — anglers continue to catch some hatchery steelhead, although high water in January has slowed the bite.
Gray’s River — Fishing has slowed although a few steelhead are still being caught.
East Fork of the Lewis River: — Steelheaders are catching a few wild fish.
Abernathy Creek — 11 fishermen kept one hatchery steelhead.
Sturgeon
Bonneville Pool — Including fish released, about 10 percent of the boat anglers caught a legal size fish. Fishing was slow from the bank.
The Dalles Pool — Boat anglers averaged a legal fish kept per every 7.7 rods. Bank anglers also caught a few legals.
John Day Pool — Slow for legal size fish.
Walleye and Bass
Bonneville Pool — No effort was found for either species.
The Dalles Pool — A bank angler caught a couple walleye. No boat anglers were sampled. No effort was observed for bass.
John Day Pool — Including fish released. Boat anglers averaged 0.7 walleye per rod. No effort was observed for bass.
Trout
Stacie Kelsey of the WDFW Inland Fisheries Program reports that trout fishing has been picking up across Southwest Washington. Klineline Pond and Lacamas Lake are producing trout, as well as Kress Lake and Sacajawea Lake in Longview.
Catchable Trout Plants in the Last 30 Days (WDFW):
Battle Ground Lake — Jan. 2, 1,500 Rainbow trout planted at 2.1 per pound
Ice House Lake — Jan. 2, 10 rainbow at 1 pound each. 20 rainbow at 2 per pound.
Klineline Pond — Jan. 2, 1500 rainbows at 2.1 per pound.
Little Ash Lake — Jan. 2, 30 rainbows.
Tunnel Lake — Jan. 2, 30 rainbows.
