The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will open two days in September for sport sturgeon retention on a portion of the Columbia River.
On Sept. 11 and Sept. 18 only, white sturgeon from 44 inches to 50 inches in length may be retained on the Columbia River from the Wauna powerlines upstream to Bonneville Dam, including the Cowlitz River.
The daily limit is one fish, and catch-and-release for sturgeon will continue to be allowed on non-retention days.
Updates
Angling is closed through Saturday on the Columbia River for salmon and steelhead from Buoy 10 to the Megler/Astoria Bridge.
Through Saturday from the Megler/Astoria Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam, the daily limit for salmon and steelhead is 6, up to two adults may be retained, of which up to one may be a sockeye and up to one may be a steelhead. Release all salmon other than sockeye and hatchery jack Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
Fishing reports for waters in southwest Washington, including the Columbia River and tributaries as reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on July 19.
Always check the WDFW website at wdfw.wa.gov/fishing for the latest fishing rules and regulations as seasons can change or close quickly if necessary.
Fishery reports
Columbia River mainstem
Salmon/Steelhead
Bonneville — 26 bank anglers kept one steelhead and released two Chinook and three steelhead; one boat/two rods had no catch.
Camas/Washougal — One boat/two rods had no catch.
Interstate 5 area — 65 bank anglers kept three steelhead and released fone Chinook, two jacks and six steelhead.
Vancouver — Two bank anglers had no catch; four boat/five rods released two steelhead.
Woodland — 14 bank anglers had no catch; Four boats/five rods kept two steelhead and released one steelhead.
Kalama — 72 bank anglers kept one jack, three steelhead and released seven steelhead; five boats/11 rods released one steelhead.
Cowlitz — Two boats/seven rods kept one steelhead and released one Chinook and one jack.
Longview — 88 bank anglers kept six steelhead and released six steelhead; 15 boats/31 rods kept one jack and three steelhead.
Cathlamet (Sec. 9) — 13 bank anglers kept one steelhead; six boats/17 rods kept nine steelhead released one steelhead.
Cathlamet (Sec. 10) — One bank angler had no catch; one boat/four rods had no catch.
Sturgeon
I-5 area — One boat/3 rods had no catch.
Kalama — Two bank anglers released one sublegal sturgeon; 1 boats/3 rods released 12 sublegal and three legal sturgeon.
Cowlitz — 1 boat/4 rods released two sublegal sturgeon.
Longview — 1 boat/ 4 rods released two sublegal and one legal sturgeon.
Columbia River tributaries
Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River from Interstate-5 Bridge downstream — 22 bank rods kept two steelhead; 1 boats/2 rods kept one steelhead.
Cowlitz Above the I-5 Bridge — 13 bank rods had now catch.
Kalama River — 13 bank rods had no catch.
Lewis River — 12 bank rods kept one steelhead and released one steelhead; 4 boats/5 rods released one Chinook.
Drano Lake — 6 boats/16 rods kept six Chinook and released one Chinook and one steelehead.
Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge — Two bank rods released one steelhead.
Klickitat above No. 5 Fishway — No report.
