Stocked with almost 37,000 rainbow trout, Swift Reservoir in Skamania County opens for its six-month fishing season on Saturday, May 27.
Swift is a 4,600-acre impoundment on the North Fork of the Lewis River.
Anglers are allowed 10 fin-clipped rainbow trout a day, with an 8-inch minimum-size limit. Wild trout are to be released.
Swift also has young coho and chinook salmon, which may be kept as part of the 10-fish daily limit. The salmon must be between 8 and 15 inches.
Adult salmon and steelhead are released into the North Fork of the Lewis River at Eagle Cliff Bridge and then spawn at various locations in the watershed. The young salmon are progeny of those adult fish that are attempting to make their way to a fish-collection device at Swift Dam.
The water level at Swift on Tuesday was elevation 998 feet. Full pool is at 1,000 feet elevation and the boat ramp at Swift Forest Park is usable to 975 feet elevation.
Also of note, Canyon Creek in eastern Clark and western Skamania counties was stocked in mid-May with 5,875 rainbow trout.
Fishery report
The Washington Columbia River mainstem and tributary sport sampling summary May 15-21:
COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM
SALMON/STEELHEAD
Sec 1 (Bonneville) — 216 bank anglers kept 35 Chinook, eight jacks and released 10 Chinook.
Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) — Nine bank rods had no catch; 16 boats/40 rods had no catch.
Sec 3 (Interstate 5 area) — Two boats/five rods had no catch.
Sec 4 (Vancouver) — 59 bank anglers kept two Chinook and released five Chinook; 34 boats/63 rods kept one Chinook, one jack and released one Chinook.
Sec 5 (Woodland) — 12 bank anglers had no catch; 16 boats/36 rods kept one Chinook.
Sec 6 (Kalama) — 56 bank anglers kept one Chinook; 21 boats/45 rods kept one Chinook and released one Chinook.
Sec 7 (Cowlitz) — Six boats/17 rods kept two Chinook and released four Chinook.
Sec 8 (Longview) — 61 bank anglers released one Chinook; 34 boats/73 rods kept two Chinook and released four Chinook.
Sec 9 (Cathlamet) — Seven bank anglers kept one steelhead and released four Chinook; one boat/three rods had no catch.
Sec 10 (Cathlamet) — Four boats/eight rods kept two Chinook and one jack.
SHAD
Sec 1 (Bonneville) — 15 bank anglers kept 11 shad.
Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) — Two bank anglers had no catch.
Sec 6 (Kalama) — One boat/one rod kept 25 shad and released five shad.
COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBUTARIES
SALMON/STEELHEAD
Cowlitz River from Interstate 5 bridge downstream — 14 bank rods kept two steelhead; one boat/one rod had no catch.
Cowlitz River above the I-5 bridge — Nine bank rods had no catch; four boats/12 rods had no catch.
Kalama River — Nine bank rods had no catch; six boats/12 rods kept four Chinook and one steelhead.
Wind River — 11 bank rods had no catch; 142 boats/457 rods kept 208 Chinook, 18 jacks and released three Chinook.
Drano Lake — 36 bank rods kept five Chinook; 154 boats/531 rods kept 369 Chinook, six jacks and released four Chinook.
Klickitat River below Fisher Hill Bridge — Seven bank rods had no catch; three boats/seven rods kept two Chinook.
Recent trout plants
May 17
Canyon Creek — 3,000 rainbow trout, 2.70 fish per pound from Goldendale Hatchery; 2,875 rainbow trout, 2.50 fish per pound from Mossyrock Hatchery.
May 18
Mayfield Reservoir — 5,000 rainbow trout, 2.50 fish per pound from Mossyrock Hatchery.
May 22
Swift Reservoir — 36,920 rainbow trout, 2.38 fish per pound from Speelyai Hatchery.
Swift Power Canal — 3,570 rainbow trout, 2.38 fish per pound from Speelyai Hatchery.
