The coho run on the Columbia River continues to produce some good numbers.
The coho tally at Bonneville Dam through Sunday totaled 196,300 adults, compared with the preseason expectation of 160,100.
Passage is typically 92 percent complete by Oct. 18, said a state report.
The Technical Advisory Committee reviewed early and late coho-stock status Monday and reported that overall the run was tracking at or slightly ahead of expectations. The early stock return appears to be tracking slightly less than the preseason forecast of 466,700 fish, while the late stock return appears to be tracking ahead of the preseason forecast of 236,600 fish.
Anglers are reminded that under statewide freshwater rules, Oct. 31 is the last day to fish for game fish in most rivers, streams and beaver ponds.
Columbia River: Most of the lower-river effort and coho catch were found in the Camas/Washougal area. Some coho and steelhead also were caught in the lower river, although effort was light. About one in 10 bank anglers on the Washington side just below Bonneville Dam had kept a legal-size sturgeon when sampled Thursday.
Klickitat River: There was heavy bank angling effort on the lower river, and that resulted in an increased coho catch. Bank anglers averaged an adult coho kept per rod. Some fall chinook were also observed in the catch, said a state report.
Yakima River: A state report said an estimated 189 adult fall chinook, 22 jack chinook and 72 adult coho were caught last week. Small flies are working best for trout anglers.
Lake Chelan: Trolling for lake trout at Mack Bar early in the morning and late in the evening has been producing a lot of fish.
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Chinook season looks strong for 2012
Chinook season looks strong for 2012
It's only a matter of time before the first migrating spring chinook is hooked by a lucky angler in the Lower Columbia River.
We already know this fish will be among a strong forecast of 414,500, which could lead to the fourth-largest return of upriver spring chinook on record.
Fishing is open daily from Buoy 10 in the Lower Columbia up to I-5. The fishery expands upriver to Beacon Rock from March 1 to April 6 (closed March 20, March 27 and April 3), and possibly longer depending in the catch rate.
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
Chinook salmon fishery opens near Chelan
OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will test whether anglers can successfully catch summer chinook salmon in the tailrace of the Chelan County PUD's hydroelectric powerhouse in Chelan.
The new fishery is scheduled to run through Oct. 15.
"This opening will test whether we can conduct a fishery in such a small area," Jeff Korth, regional fish manager for the WDFW, said in a news release Friday. "Starting this year, a lot of hatchery-reared fish will be moving through the tailrace, and we'd like to give anglers a chance to catch some."
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
Washington wildlife officials set sights on northern pike
SPOKANE -- State wildlife officials will ask fishermen to help control the advance of northern pike toward the Columbia River.
Fishery managers in the next few months plan to enlist anglers to remove as many northern pike as possible from the Pend Oreille River, which is the route the voracious species is following from Idaho and Montana.
Studies conducted with the Kalispel Tribe and Eastern Washington University show a dramatic decline in native minnows, largemouth bass, yellow perch and other fish species that inhabit the 55-mile Box Canyon Reservoir.
Commission calls for early end to sturgeon gillnet season
Commission calls for early end to sturgeon gillnet season
The Coastal Conservation Association is calling for an end to the winter sturgeon gillnet season in the lower Columbia River to reduce handling of the dwindling population.
"It is an unneeded season on fish that are in serious trouble,'' said Bruce Polley, CCA Oregon government relations committee chairman. "Because this season is unnecessary to access the commercial quota, it results in an increase in discarded sturgeon in fall salmon/sturgeon gillnet fisheries.''
Historically, the winter sturgeon season has been in January and early to mid-February.
Area tribes begin annual fish sales
Area tribes begin annual fish sales
The Nez Perce, Umatilla, Warm Springs and Yakama tribes have begun their annual fish gill-netting and fish sales program at several locations along the Columbia River.
Salmon, steelhead and coho are available from tribal fishers now, but the chinook run should peak in the tribal fishing areas about the second week of September.
The large run of salmon and steelhead should result in ongoing sales of Columbia River fish for the next several weeks.
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