Status Of The North Fork Lewis
I just spoke with the manager of the two Lewis River hatcheries and got the latest word on the river and fishing prospects. The flow levels have been pooping along at about 1,200 CFS for many weeks. Twice in the last two weeks the dam has raised the levels for just a couple of days, once to 4,000 and once to 6,000 CFS.
As Scott Kappes (Hottamale) told me this morning and the hatchery confirmed, on those two occasions the fishing at the mouth went nuts, with over 50 fish taken on each outgoing tide, mostly chinooks!
The reason for the two spikes in river levels was testing of repairs and modifications to the spillways at Merwin Dam. Those tests are finished (snif!). No more river level increases are expected until the rains begin. Poo.
They have seen about 100 chinooks at the lower hatchery, with about 10-12 being taken at the meathole now each day. About 70 coho have showed up as well.
Fish are trickling in, but 40,000 early-run coho and 14,000 bright chinooks are patiently awaiting increased flows.
Its also interesting that they are getting a few stray tules, and expect about 3-5,000 to show up in coming weeks. These fish apparently strayed from the Washougal and/or the Kalama, and are thought to be reproducing naturally now. The hatchery would love to kill them all off, but they are ESA-protected now, which is kinda funny. If you catch a tule, take it home and cherish it!
Hatchery personnel are continuing to fish the mouth during late ebbing tides with some success. Even with the low flow rates enough cold water plume forms during the tide to drag some fish into the mouth, where they hang mainly on the ledge. Rainbow spinners are the ticket.
Pray for rain, but don't wait. Must kill chinooks!!!!
[ 09-11-2002, 04:22 PM: Message edited by: Thumper ]
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Jack
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