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VANCOUVER - The sport salmon bag limit for the north fork of the Toutle and Green (Cowlitz County) rivers has been increased so anglers can keep excess coho returning to the Toutle River Hatchery.
Fishing regulations also are being liberalized to provide more fishing opportunity.
Fish managers estimate more than 10,000 coho may be returning to the hatchery, which already has met its production needs.
The salmon daily limit on the Toutle*s north fork and the Green River in Cowlitz will be increased effective 12:01 a.m. Sept. 25. The daily limit will be increased to six salmon of which only four may be adults. Only one salmon may be a chinook and all chum and wild coho must be released. All chinook longer than 28 inches caught from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30 must be released.
The open area of the north fork of the Toutle extends from the posted deadline at the fish collection facility downstream to the confluence with the Toutle*s south fork. The change opens an additional seven miles of fishing area, which has ended at lower boundary of the Kidd Valley Bridge.
The open waters of the Green River will extend from the mouth upstream to the 2800 bridge. Closed waters within this area include all tributaries; the area from 400 feet below to 100 feet above the hatchery rack when installed; all waters within 400 feet of the water intake at the upper end of the Green River Hatchery through Nov. 30.
Surplus hatchery coho are being released into the Green River above the hatchery rack to make them available to sport fishers.
Uploaded: 9/22/1999
Uploaded: 9/22/1999