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VANCOUVER - Adult coho bag limits for the Cowlitz and Lewis rivers are being increased due to surplus returns of hatchery coho, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced.
Effective Oct. 2, the daily bag limit on the Lewis River (including the north fork), from boundary markers at the mouth upstream to Colvin Creek, will be increased to six salmon, no more than four of which may be adults. All chum, chinook and wild coho must be released.
It is illegal to fish for salmon inside a corkline located at the mouth of the Lewis River Salmon Hatchery fishway. Night closure and non-buoyant lure restrictions are in effect upstream of the lower Cedar Creek concrete boat ramp through Oct. 31. Fishing from boats from Johnson Creek to Colvin Creek is prohibited through Oct. 15. In addition the North Fork Lewis River from Colvin Creek upstream to Merwin Dam is closed to angling beginning Oct. 1 under permanent regulations.]
From Saturday (Oct. 2) through Dec. 31, the daily salmon bag limit on portions of the Cowlitz River also is being increased. The daily bag limit is being raised to six salmon downstream from fishing boundary markers located approximately 400 feet below the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery barrier dam. No more than four salmon may be adults and no more than one of the adults may be a chinook. All chum and wild coho must be released.
In addition, Chinook over 28 inches in length caught between Mill and Blue creeks must be released.
Night closure and non-buoyant lure restrictions are in effect through Oct. 31 and salmon angling from boats is prohibited at all times between the barrier dam and the mouth of Mill Creek on the Cowlitz River.
The increased limits are possible because the Lewis River Hatchery already has surplus coho and managers of the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery also expect salmon runs to exceed production needs.
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Uploaded: 10/4/1999
Uploaded: 10/4/1999