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). Anglers are advised to check weather conditions before driving to the gorge.
The area from Buoy 10 upstream to the Interstate 5 Bridge is open for hatchery Chinook salmon (coho remains closed); and hatchery steelhead is open from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington Border under permanent regulations. Check the Sport Fishing Regulations for retention details.
Walleye fishing is improving in the John Day pool.
A few winter steelhead should be available for anglers plunking from the beaches on the lower Columbia River. Steelheading in local rivers is slow.
Trout and kokanee are biting well in local lakes.
Salmon/Steelhead
The salmonid creel program on the lower Columbia River has ended for the year and will resume in February.
Grays River: Until further notice, from the mouth upstream to the mouth of the South Fork: release all Coho.
West Fork Grays River: Until further notice, from the mouth upstream: release all Coho.
Cowlitz River: Until further notice, from the mouth to the Barrier Dam including all lower Cowlitz tributaries, closed for Chinook retention. Until further notice, the closed waters section below the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery Barrier Dam is 400 feet, at the posted markers.
Tilton River: The closed-waters area at the fish release site at Gust Backstrom Park has been reduced to approximately 100 feet at the posted signs.
Washougal River, including Camas Slough: until further notice, from the mouth to the bridge at Salmon Falls, closed for Chinook retention.
Grays River — 4 bank anglers had no catch.
Elochoman River — 33 bank anglers kept 6 steelhead and released 1 steelhead. 1 boat/2 rods had no catch.
Abernathy Creek — 2 bank anglers had no catch.
Germany Creek — 7 bank anglers kept 1 steelhead.
Cowlitz River — Interstate 5 Bridge downstream: 12 bank rods had no catch. Above the bridge: 3 bank rods had no catch.
East Fork Lewis River — 34 bank anglers had no catch. 2 boats/4 rods released 1 steelhead.
Salmon Creek — 34 bank anglers had no catch.
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam): Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).
John Day Pool (Columbia River above John Day Dam and John Day Arm): Weekly checking showed no catch for two boats (four anglers). (WDFW)
Walleye
Bonneville Pool: Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).
John Day Pool: Weekly checking showed 12 walleye kept, plus one walleye released for 11 boats (25 anglers).(WDFW)
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam): Closed for retention.
Bonneville Pool: Weekly checking showed one sublegal sturgeon released for 45 bank anglers; and eight legal white sturgeon kept, plus 151 sublegal, one legal and two oversize sturgeon released for nine boats (102 anglers).
John Day Pool: Weekly checking showed no catch for 17 bank anglers; and five sublegal sturgeon released for 27 boats (56 anglers).
Recent trout plants
Battle Ground Lake (Clark County): 1,500 rainbow trout at 2.2 per pound were planted on Jan. 7
Icehouse Lake (Skamania County): 1,000 rainbow trout at 2.2 per pound were planted on Jan. 8
Klineline Pond (Clark County): 1,500 rainbow trout at 2.2 per pound were stocked on Jan. 7
Kress Lake (Cowlitz County): planted with 2,000 rainbow trout on Jan. 2. Also planted with 13 steelhead on Jan. 7. (WDFW)
