Anglers have more time to go after hatchery steelhead on Salmon Creek.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife set the season beginning Sunday (March 16) through May 23.
The WDFW said in a press release that the “Salmon Creek Hatchery steelhead program is replacing early returning winter steelhead stocks with local stocks that exhibit a later run timing as a result of the Mitchell Act Biological Opinion. This rule provides anglers with additional time to harvest these fish from Salmon Creek.”
Daily limit is three hatchery steelhead, minimum size of 20 inches. Selective gear rules are in effect, except the use of barbed hooks is allowed.
Two additional days of smelt dipping approved
The smelt run has been determined to be large enough to have two additional days of dipping in the lower Cowlitz River, it was announced by the WDFW on Thursday.
The additional days are Wednesday, March 19, and Saturday, March 22. Hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Daily limit is 10 pounds only. Harvesters may use handheld dipnets only.
A recreational fishing license is required. Each harvester must be actively participating, and all smelt caught must be retained up to the daily limit.
Salmon limit reduced in Wind River
Beginning Sunday (March 16), there will be a one-fish limit on adult salmon on the Wind River.
“The preseason forecast of spring Chinook returning to the Wind River (4,888 adults) necessitates a reduced adult salmon daily limit to provide spring Chinook angling opportunity and help ensure the broodstock collection goal at Carson National Fish Hatchery is achieved,” the WDFW stated in a press release.
Beginning Sunday, from the boundary line markers at mouth to 400 feet downstream of Shipherd Falls the salmon and hatchery steelhead daily limit is six with up to two adults (i.e. adult salmon and hatchery steelhead) may be retained, of which no more than one may be an adult Chinook. Salmon minimum size 12 inches.
Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
Klickitat River salmon season shortened
Due to low estimated return numbers of adult spring Chinook to the Klickitat River, the WDFW has reduced the adult salmon daily limit to one hatchery fish in the lower river and will close the lower river salmon season on May 22.
Also, the opening of the salmon season on the upper river will be delayed until further notice.
Some 1,200 spring Chinook are estimated to return to the Klickitat, which could be among the lowest since 2009.
“Sport fishery managers need to utilize a conservative approach to the 2025 spring Chinook season to ensure that hatchery broodstock collection is achieved,” the WDFW stated in a press release.
Fishing will be open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays only from April 1 to May 21 from the mouth of the Klickitat (BNSF Railroad Bridge) to Fisher Hill Bridge.
The salmon and hatchery steelhead daily limit is two, of which only one may be an adult salmon. Salmon minimum size is 12 inches. And wild Chinook need to be released.
WDFW will monitor the spring Chinook return and hatchery broodstock collection with co-managers to determine if additional fishery modification is needed.
Sturgeon retention closes in John Day Pool
Sturgeon retention on the Columbia River from John Day Dam to McNary Dam and all adjacent Washington tributaries closed on Friday (March 14).
The WDFW said the projected total catch through Friday is 95 fish as compared to the harvest guideline of 105 fish (90%).
“Therefore, not enough fish remain on the guideline to allow for additional retention opportunities,” the WDFW said in a statement.
The John Day Pool remains open for catch-and-release fishing for sturgeon on days that are closed to retention, as do many other stretches of the mainstem Columbia River.
Columbia River and tributary reports
On the lower Columbia River, Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam there were 76 salmonid boats and 40 Washington bank rods recorded during the flight count on March 8.
MAINSTEM COLUMBIA RIVER
Salmon/Steelhead
Sec 2 (Camas/Washougal) — One bank angler had no catch; one boat/one rod had no catch.
Sec 4 (Vancouver) — Four bank anglers had no catch; three boats/six rods had no catch.
Sec 6 (Kalama) — Eight bank anglers had no catch; three boats/eight rods had no catch.
Sec 7 (Cowlitz) — One boat/one rod had no catch.
Sec 8 (Longview) — 33 bank anglers kept one Chinook; three boats/eight rods had no catch.
Sec 9 (Cathlamet) — 10 bank anglers had no catch; two boats/three rods had no catch.
COLUMBIA RIVER TRIBUTARIES
Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River from Interstate 5 bridge downstream — 103 bank rods kept 17 steelhead.
Cowlitz River above the I-5 bridge — 49 bank rods kept 11 steelhead; 23 boats/70 rods kept 37 steelhead.
Lewis River — Three bank rods had no catch; seven boats/17 rods released three steelhead.
