HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown Last week at a public meeting in Olympia, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty tribes released their 2016 forecast for returning hatchery chinook, sockeye, chum and coho. The forecast meeting is the starting point for development of the 2016 salmon-fishing seasons in Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington coastal areas. The expected return of hatchery chinook to the Columbia River is predicted to be fairly decent this year, but the return of coho is expected to be half of the forecasted 2015 return. About 380,000 Columbia River coho are projected to return this year. However, only 242,000 coho actually returned to the river last year, where some coho stocks are listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. According to John Long, salmon fisheries lead for WDFW, the fisheries will be constrained in several areas this year because of low returns of wild and hatchery coho. About 256,000 coho are predicted to return to Puget Sound this year, which is about one-third of last year's predicted return. "Unfavorable ocean conditions last year led to fewer coho returning to Puget Sound than anticipated, and we expect to see another down year for coho this year,GÇ¥ Long said. "Because of the low return, we will likely have to restrict fishing for salmon in a variety of locations to protect wild coho stocks.GÇ¥ In addition to a poor coho return, this year's Puget Sound chinook run is also anticipated to be smaller than last year with about 165,000 fish returning, Long reported. "We are going to have to be creative this year in order to provide fisheries in some areas, and we would appreciate public input to help us establish priorities,GÇ¥ he said. An online commenting tool, a meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting progress are available on WDFW's web site.
License reminder
With a new season of outdoor activities about to begin, sportsmen are reminded that current hunting and fishing licenses expire March 31. The cost of new hunting and fishing licenses remain the same as last year. Also, the spring turkey general season opens in mid-April. The season follows a special spring turkey hunt for people 15 and younger. More details will be available soon on the WDFW web site.
Fishing notes
" Fishing is starting to look up on the Cowlitz River but has a ways to go before it could be called fair. Joe Hymer of the WDFW reported recent creel checks counted 10 boat anglers caught four hatchery-winter steelhead and released two. Thirty-nine bank anglers kept three steelhead. Barrier Dam Campground reported most of the steelhead caught came from Blue Creek, but a couple of chinook have also been caught by bank anglers near the barrier. High flows are keeping the fish near the banks, which has been a boon for bank anglers. " The Skookumchuck River has been producing some steelhead in the 5-plus pound range near the dam. A small bead three to four inches above a hook, plus jigs, have been baits of choice. " Steelhead fishing in the Kalama River has been slow for boat and bank anglers. Beginning March 10, Kalama anglers may keep up to two adult hatchery spring chinook. Also beginning March 10, spring chinook must be released in the Lewis River. The closure was necessary to provide the hatchery with as many returning fish as possible. " Salmon fishing reopens March 12-18 in Marine Area 6 (East Juan de Fuca Strait). The daily limit is one chinook, with a two-salmon limit.
Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment