Swift Reservoir remains open for through Dec. 31, however the water level is dropping and may get too low to launch boats again.
The reservoir was at 975 feet elevation late Wednesday night.
Most boats can be launched at 975 feet. Small boats can be launched even as low as 973 feet elevation.
Streamflow in the upper North Fork Lewis is below average.
To get a realtime reading of the Swift water level, go online to http://waterdata.usgs.gov/wa/nwis/current?type=lake.
Angler checks from the Washington (WDFW) and Oregon (ODFW) departments of Fish and Wildlife:
Cowlitz — Forty-eight bank rods with two adult and five jack coho kept plus three adult chinook, one coho jack and one summer steelhead released; four boaters with no catch. (WDFW)
Last week, the return to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery included 273 adult coho, 172 jack coho, 59 adult chinook, two jack chinook, five summer steelhead, two winter steelhead and 20 cutthroat trout.
Streamflow on Wednesday at Mayfield Dam was 11,800 cubic feet per second. The average for the date is 8,540 cubic feet per second.
Kalama — Six boaters with no catch; 77 bank rods with one hatchery steelhead and five hatchery coho kept plus one hatchery coho and two wild coho released. (WDFW)
Coweeman — Two bank rods with no catch. (WDFW)
North Fork Lewis — Ten bank rods with one adult coho kept; nine boaters with three adult fall chinook and two adult coho kept plus one adult fall chinook and one adult coho. (WDFW)
Streamflow Wednesday at Merwin Dam was 11,000 cubic feet per second. The average for the date is 7,650 cfs.
East Fork Lewis — Twenty-nine bank rods with one hatchery steelhead kept plus one hatchery steelhead and six wild steelhead released. (WDFW)
Streamflow on Wednesday was only 460 cubic feet per second. Flows of 1,100 to 1,400 cubic feet per second are best for winter steelhead fishing.
Klineline Pond — Sixty-seven bank rods with 49 rainbow and one broodstock rainbow kept.
Anglers using Power Bait and marshmallows in the south swimming area has the best success. (WDFW)
Your tax-deductible donation to The Columbian’s Community Funded Journalism program will contribute to better local reporting on key issues, including homelessness, housing, transportation and the environment. Reporters will focus on narrative, investigative and data-driven storytelling.
Local journalism needs your help. It’s an essential part of a healthy community and a healthy democracy.
