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Lots of Fishing Changes Coming to the Columbia River Area Starting Aug. 1 by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, July 26, 2011

Here is the latest word from state Fish and Wildlife from the Columbia River region:

In the Cowlitz River there has been no report on angling success.

Last week Tacoma Power recovered 47 adult spring chinook, 23 jacks, 65 mini-jacks, 610 summer steelhead and one sea-run cutthroat trout during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

During the past week Tacoma Power employees released one spring chinook adult, 22 jacks and one sea-run cutthroat trout into the upper Cowlitz River at the Lake Scanewa Day Use Park and 62 spring chinook mini-jacks into Riffe Lake at Mossyrock Park.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 6,660 cubic feet per second on Monday morning, July 25. Water visibility is 13 feet.

In the Grays (including West Fork) and Elochoman rivers beginning Aug. 1, night closure, anti-snagging rule, and stationary gear restrictions will be in effect.

The Green, Kalama, Lewis (including North Fork), Toutle (including North Fork), and Washougal rivers all open to fishing for salmon beginning Aug. 1. Hatchery fall chinook and hatchery coho may be retained.

The Cispus, upper Cowlitz, Deep, and Klickitat rivers plus Lake Scanewa effective Aug. 1, any chinook may be retained. On the Lower Klickitat, anti-snagging rule will be in effect Aug. 1.

The Lower Wind River opens to fishing for salmon Aug. 1. Anti-snagging rule will be in effect.

In Drano Lake it reverts back to a two adult salmon daily limit beginning Aug. 1. Hatchery chinook and hatchery coho may be retained. Anti-snagging rule will be in effect.

The Buoy 10 fishery at the Columbia River mouth will be open for chinook and hatchery coho Aug. 1-28. Anglers will have a two-salmon daily limit, only one of which may be a chinook. From Aug. 29 through Dec. 31, anglers will have a daily limit of two hatchery coho or hatchery steelhead or one of each, but must release chinook.

In the Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam last week state Fish and Wildlife sampled nearly 2,000 salmon anglers (including 152 boats) with 18 adult and 13 jack summer chinook, 640 steelhead, and no sockeye. Most of the jacks were kept as were just over half of the steelhead. All of the adult chinook were released as required. Interestingly, bank anglers still reported more wild steelhead released than kept while boat anglers reported just the opposite.

The mainstem Columbia River from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam will be open for chinook (adipose fin clipped or not) and hatchery coho Aug. 1 through Dec. 31. Anglers will be allowed to retain one adult chinook as part of their two adult salmonid daily limit through Sept. 9.

Beginning Sept. 10, chinook retention will only be allowed upstream of the Lewis River, but up to two adult chinook may be retained. Up to 2 adult chinook may be retained downstream of the Lewis beginning October 1.

In Bonneville Pool there has been no report on angling success. Anti-snagging rule and night closure will be in effect for salmon and steelhead beginning Aug. 1.

In The Dalles Pool bank anglers were catching some summer chinook and steelhead. Anti-snagging rule will be in effect for salmon and steelhead beginning Aug. 1.

In the John Day Pool, Paul Hoffarth, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist in Pasco reports no chinook or steelhead were harvested this past week in the John Day Pool. Effort continues to be light.

There were an estimated 49 angler trips for the week. For the fishery that began June 16, an estimated 27 adult hatchery summer chinook and 33 hatchery jacks have been harvested. Anti-snagging rule for salmon and steelhead will be in effect beginning Aug. 1.

In Bonneville Dam to Priest Rapids Dam effective Aug. 1, any chinook, adipose fin clipped or not, may be retained.