Fishing reports for waters in southwest Washington, including the Columbia River and tributaries as reported to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on March 2.
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.
UPDATES
Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River mainstem
Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dame, including Deep River — Through April 4, daily limit is six with up to two adults may be retained of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches.
Fishing for salmon or steelhead from a vessel is prohibited in the area adjacent to the Cowlitz River mouth and includes all of Carrolls Channel. For full details of the boat-fishing closure area, view the emergency rule at https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/.
Bank angling with hand-cast lines only from Beacon Rock to the Bonneville Dam deadline.
Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam — Through March, the daily limit is two hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
From March 16 through May 5, the daily limit will be six with no more than two adults retained of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead. Bank angling with hand-cast lines only between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island powerlines.
The Dalles Dam upstream to the Washington/Oregon border — Through March 15, daily limit is one hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
March 16 through May 5, the daily limit will be six, with no more than two adults retained of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook. Release wild steelhead.
Washington/Oregon border upstream to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco — Through March 31, the daily limit is one hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
Sturgeon: Columbia River mainstem
Columbia River, from Buoy 10 upstream to John Day Dam including adjacent tributaries — Catch and release only. Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed.
Columbia River, John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam — White sturgeon open for retention fishing until annual quota is met. Minimum size is 43-inch fork length, maximum size 54-inch fork length. Daily limit is one, and annual limit is two fish. Catch and release allowed when closed to retention. Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed.
Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River tributaries
Cowltiz River, from mouth to posted markers below the Barrier Dam — From March 5 through July 31, the daily limit will be three hatchery steelhead. Release all salmon and wild steelhead.
Effective March 5, the fishing boundary markers will be moved downstream to 400 feet below the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery ladder at the Barrier Dam.
FISHERY REPORTS
Lower Columbia mainstem from Bonneville to Astoria — 31 salmonid boats and 36 Washington bank rods were tallied during the Feb. 27 effort count.
Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River mainstem
Vancouver — Two boats/three rods had no catch.
Woodland — Six bank anglers had no catch; one boat/two rods had no catch.
The Dalles Pool — One boat/three rods released two steelhead.
Walleye: Columbia River mainstem
Bonneville Pool — One boat/two rods had no catch.
The Dalles Pool — Six bank anglers kept one walleye; seven boats/12 rods kept 11 walleye and released two walleye.
John Day Pool — 22 boats/46 rods kept 18 walleye and released five walleye.
Salmon/Steelhead: Columbia River tributaries
Cowlitz River from Interstate-5 bridge downstream — 114 bank rods kept eight steelhead; one boat/two rods had no catch.
Above the I-5 bridge — 72 bank rods kept seven steelhead and released one steelhead; 78 boats/265 rods kept 40 steelhead and released two steelhead.
