Summer steelhead returns to the Columbia River and its tributaries this year are tracking better than last year, but the runs are still below average.
However, it does look as if anglers will be spared bag reductions and river closures.
Last year’s dismal return of summer steelhead was unprecedented in modern times. The runs had been declining for years, but the returns in 2017 were terrible.
Managers responded by enacting rolling closures on the Columbia River and some of its tributaries. Also, the daily bag limit was reduced to one when the seasons were open.
It is still a little too early to tell, but the summer steelhead runs may have bounced back a little this year. Managers are expecting to allow a two-fish bag limit and the rolling closures may not be necessary.
Tom Wadsworth, a district fish biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Region 5, explained that some Southwest Washington rivers were seeing good returns, but others are not.
“The Lewis River has been pretty good,” said Wadsworth. “There have been plenty of fish coming back to the hatchery. They’ve been recycling some steelhead.”
Returns to the Kalama River have been good, but few hatchery fish have come back.
“Some fish have been showing up in the Kalama,” Wadsworth said. “There are lots of wild fish, but not many hatchery fish.”
The Cowlitz River run is struggling, but fisheries managers were expecting that.
“We weren’t expecting a good year on the Cowlitz. We lost some fish a couple years ago, so there was a poor stock year. There have been a few fish caught, but nothing like it should be,” added Wadsworth.
Cody Clark of Bob’s Sporting Goods has been talking with fishermen who have targeted the local tributaries, and he has heard the same thing.
“The Cowlitz is not like it should be,” said Clark. “Anglers are doing well in the Columbia River, and we are seeing some fish out of the Kalama.”
Clark said that low water in the tributaries has forced some anglers to adjust their methods, and size down their gear. He reports some anglers have shifted to using light line, as light as 6-pound test, to deal with the low, clear water.
Summer steelhead runs explained
There are three distinct runs of steelhead in the Columbia River, although the run timings overlap a bit. The Skamania run returns to the Columbia River in June through July. They are mostly hatchery steelhead returning to the lower river tributaries.
An average Skamania run steelhead is 7 to 10 pounds.
“A” run steelhead come in during July and August, and they are headed to streams such as the John Day River in the mid-Columbia. Some of them are headed to the Snake River, too.
The “A” run fish are about 4 to 6 pounds on average.
The “B” run fish are headed to the Snake River and the Clearwater River in Idaho and will pass through the lower Columbia in August and September. They are the largest of the three runs, coming in at 12 to 15 pounds.
Columbia River fishing has been steady
In the main stem of the Columbia, the action has been fairly consistent and a little bit better then last year, according to many reports. Fishing guide Larry Werner fishes the Columbia River for summer steelhead 40 to 50 times a year and has done so for the last 20 years. He targets mostly the main stem of the Columbia River.
“It’s been steady this year,” said Werner. “It hasn’t been as great as years past, but we are averaging one and a half steelhead per person. Our best day so far we got 10 steelhead.”
“The steelhead are of real good quality this year, too,” he added. “They are very nice fish, averaging from 8 to 10 pounds.”
During last year’s run, the one-fish limit made life a bit easy for the guides. Werner said that filling the short limit meant quick days. With the two-fish limit restored he is spending up to eight or nine hours out on the water trying to get limits for his clients.
He hasn’t been too far off, averaging just shy of the two-fish mark.
“Everyone has been going home with fish,” he added.
Werner targets points and humps along the river bottom where the steelhead travel, anchoring in 6 to 12 feet of water depending on the river flows.
His best success has come from fishing size 8 or 10 Spin-n-glos tipped with cured coon shrimp. The best color, according to Werner, is orange, year after year.
When the Spin-n-glos do not work, Werner will turn to Flatfish plugs.
Bank anglers have also been getting some steelhead by plunking with Spin-n-glos.
Sockeye have been showing up in the mix, although retention was closed before July 1. Werner reports that the sockeye he has caught this year are running larger than usual.
“The sockeye are real good sized this year,” said Werner. “I had the biggest sockeye I’ve ever seen in my boat this year.”
The good size of the sockeye, and the surprising size of the run could be good indicators that ocean conditions are finally turning around for the better.
Only time will tell.
