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State Fish and Wildlife Columbia River Regional Fishing Reports by Mark Yuasa Seattle Times, October 9, 2012

Salmon and Steelhead

Mainstem Grays River from Hwy. 4 Bridge to South Fork and West Fork Grays from mouth to boundary markers 300 yards below the hatchery road bridge - Under permanent rules, closes to all fishing from Oct. 16-Nov. 30. These areas will reopen for hatchery salmon and hatchery steelhead beginning December 1.

North Fork Toutle - Some coho are being caught.

Cowlitz River - Fishing has slowed for boat anglers near the mouth of the river.

Last week Tacoma Power recovered 1,160 fall Chinook adults, 146 jacks, 1,024 coho adults, 704 jacks, 15 summer-run steelhead during six days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

During the past week Tacoma Power employees released 291 fall Chinook adults, 45 jacks, 290 coho adults, and 271 jacks into Lake Scanewa above Cowlitz Falls Dam at the Day Use Site, 278 fall Chinook adults, 31 jacks, 10 coho adults and 29 jacks into the upper Cowlitz River at Packwood and 145 fall Chinook adult, eight jacks, 13 coho adults, and 47 jacks into the Cispus River near Randle. A total of 441 fall Chinook adults, 60 jacks, 571 coho adults, and 205 jacks were released into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton during the week.

River flows at Mayfield Dam are approximately 4,720 cubic feet per second on Monday, October 8. Water visibility is at 15 feet.

Kalama River - Still a few fall chinook being caught (though most are dark) along with some bright summer run steelhead.

Lewis River - Boat anglers in the mainstem are catching some coho while those in the North Fork are mainly catching fall chinook.

Wind River - Boat anglers are catching some hatchery coho.

Drano Lake - Boat anglers are catching adult and jack fall chinook. In October, fishing is closed from 6 pm Tuesdays to 6 pm Wednesdays.

White Salmon River - Light effort and catch.

Klickitat River - Anglers continue to catch fall chinook on the lower river.

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Effort and catches are waning but some bright fall chinook and large summer run steelhead continue to be caught. Last week we sampled 330 salmonid anglers (including 59 boats) with 13 adult and 6 jack fall Chinook, 7 steelhead plus 1 adult and 1 jack coho. Overall, all the adult Chinook and 6 (86%) of the steelhead were kept while both coho were released.

Bonneville Pool - Off the mouths of the White Salmon and Klickitat rivers, boat anglers averaged about a chinook per rod when including jacks. Jacks comprised about half the catch. Some coho are also being caught off the Klickitat.

Under permanent rules, the night closure is lifted beginning Oct. 16.

The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers are catching some coho, steelhead, and fall chinook jacks.

Effective Oct. 16, the anti-snagging rule is lifted from Bonneville Dam to McNary Dam.

Sturgeon

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Light effort and catch in the catch-and-release only fishery that has been extended through the end of the year.

The Dalles Pool - Boat anglers are catching some legals. Through September, an estimated 239 (79.7%) of the annual 300 fish guideline had been taken.

Walleye and Bass

Lower Columbia below Bonneville Dam - Boat anglers in the Woodland area are catching some walleye.

The Dalles Pool - Including fish released, the handful of boat anglers sampled averaged a walleye per rod. Some bass were also being caught.