Fishing report, Feb. 27

Spring Chinook fishing in the Columbia River has been slow. A few spring Chinook are being caught in the Willamette River.

Trout fishing continues to be good in local lakes.

Steelheading in the Columbia and area tributaries is slow.

Fishing for warm water species is slow, although walleye fishing is improving.

Weekend Fishing Opportunities:

• Buoy 10 upstream to the I-5 Bridge is open through Thursday, Feb. 28 for hatchery Chinook salmon (coho remains closed); and hatchery steelhead is open from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington border under permanent regulations

• Effective Friday, March 1, spring Chinook angling will be open to both boat and bank anglers from Warrior Rock upstream to Beacon Rock. Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam will be open to bank angling only.

• Effective Monday, April 1, spring Chinook angling will be open from Tower Island power lines upstream to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam, plus the banks between Bonneville Dam and Tower Island power lines.

• White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam, and in The Dalles Pool but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing. Bonneville, and John Day pools are open to the retention of white sturgeon until quotas are reached (under permanent regulations). We advise that anglers check weather conditions before driving to the gorge.

Salmon/ Steelhead

Lower Columbia mainstem from the I-5 Bridge downstream: 31 boats and 68 bank rods were tallied during last Saturdays boat count.

Washington creel checks:

Vancouver bank — 9 salmonid anglers had no catch.

Woodland bank — 9 salmonid anglers had no catch.

Woodland boat — 1 boat/ 1 salmonid angler had no catch.

Kalama bank — 2 salmonid anglers had no catch.

John Day Pool: 1 bank angler kept 1 steelhead and released 1 steelhead.

Columbia River Tributaries

Grays River — 6 bank anglers had no catch.

Elochoman River — 3 bank anglers had no catch.

Abernathy Creek — 1 bank angler had no catch.

Germany Creek — 1 bank angler had no catch.

Cowlitz River — I-5 Bridge downstream: 65 bank rods kept 3 steelhead. 2 boats/6 rods had no catch.

Above the I-5 Bridge: 21 bank rods kept 1 steelhead. 19 boats/53 rods kept 12 steelhead and released 1 steelhead.

East Fork Lewis River — 24 bank anglers released 4 steelhead.

Salmon Creek — 1 bank angler had no catch.(WDFW)

Oregon creel surveys:

Portland to Westport Bank: Weekly checking showed no catch for 43 bank anglers.

Portland to St. Helens Boats: Weekend checking showed one spring Chinook adult released for 15 boats (32 anglers).

Westport to Buoy 10 Boats: Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (one angler). (ODFW)

Sturgeon

Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam): Closed for retention.

Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam): Weekly checking showed one legal white sturgeon kept, plus 29 sublegal sturgeon released for four boats (eight anglers).

John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam): Weekly checking showed no catch for 12 bank anglers; and one legal white sturgeon kept for 10 boats (22 anglers).

Walleye

Bonneville Pool: Weekly checking showed three walleye kept, plus three walleye released for two boats (four anglers).

The Dalles Pool: No report.

John Day Pool: Weekly checking showed five walleye kept, plus two walleye released for nine boats (22 anglers). (ODFW/WDFW)