Smelt Reports for 2007
Smelt returns poor; 2007 forecast is similar
Bob Brown
The Columbia River smelt returns for 2006 were much less than anticipated and the forecast is not looking good for 2007. Joe Hymer, fish biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver's office, said the 2006 Columbia River smelt commercial landing was the fourth lowest recorded since 1938. Poor ocean conditions might have played a role in the poor performance of the run. A similar precipitous drop in the Fraser River eulachon run (based of record low catches in the Department of Fisheries and Ocean's New Westminster eulachon test fishery) further suggest that ocean survival was very low. The eulachon returns throughout British Columbia were also depressed in 2006 according to the Canadian Department of Fish and Oceans. This was the first time that the northern stock (e.g. Skeena River), central stock (e.g. Bella Cola River) and southern stock (Columbia and Fraser Rivers) groups failed all at the same time.
Recent mixed stock analysis of the British Columbia eulachon catch has shown that eulachon stocks belong to three distinct genetic groups, which are separated geographically. Stocks returning to the Columbia and Fraser rivers tend to mix in southern waters and compose one of the genetic groups. Columbia River smelt are caught in the spring shrimp fisheries off the west coast of Vancouver Island, therefore bycatch and test fishery information gathered by the Canadian Department of Fish and Oceans during their annual spring shrimp fisheries can be used as an indicator of Columbia River returns.
Negative abundance indicators for 2007 include: low mainstem Columbia larval densities during the winters of 2002-04; a significant decline in the bycatch in the Canadian ocean shrimp fisheries since 2002; low levels of Age 1 bycatch in Canadian ocean shrimp fisheries during 2004-05; low level of Age 2 bycatch in the 2004 Canadian ocean shrimp fisheries; a major decline in the Fraser River eulachon test fishery catch in 2004-05; the general collapse of all eulachon fisheries in British Columbia during 2006; the decline in Columbia River salmon returns during the past few years; and potential poor ocean survival rates during unfavorable ocean conditions since 2001. It is likely that continuing warm ocean conditions will negatively impact the 2007 smelt return.
The overall rapid decline in the smelt biomass tonnage in the Canadian ocean shrimp fisheries suggest poor returns to the Columbia River in 2007. The Joint Staff is recommending that 2006-07 smelt fisheries operate consistent with Level One fisheries. Level One fisheries are recommended where there is great uncertainty in run strength or indications for a poor return. Level One fisheries are the most conservative and are scheduled to effect a harvest rate of ten percent or less. The purposed of Level One fisheries is to gain some insight on spawning returns to the lower Columbia River and tributaries.
One 2-24 hour fishing period for the main Columbia commercial fishery might be recommended. Recreational and commercial dip net fisheries consisting of one 12-24 fishing period per week would be used to monitor returns to the Cowlitz River. The daily bag limit for Washington tributaries should be ten pounds per person. Specific dates and times will be proposed at the Compact Hearing on Thursday.
-------------------------------------------------------
01/25/2007
Commercial landings from the mainstem Columbia have slowed, said Joe Hymer, a fish biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office.
The Cowlitz River at Castle Rock has been running in the high 11,000-cubic-feet per second, which is normal for this time of the year. The temperature of the Columbia downstream of the Cowlitz was 39 degrees last weekend, and in the lower Cowlitz River, it was 40 degrees.
Water temperatures have now dropped below ideal levels for smelt movement (42 degrees). On the Cowlitz, there might have been a few fish around the first two Saturdays in January.
A small group of harbor seals were observed feeding on smelt near Gearhart on Friday. Light sport effort was observed Saturday, and no catch was observed; however seals and cormorants were observed in the middle of the river upstream to Kelso.
------------------------------------------------------
01/31/2007
Smelt: It was another slow day for people dipping in the Cowlitz River on Saturday, according to state reports. Water temperatures remain a key factor, at 41 degrees in the lower Cowlitz and Columbia. That is still a little cold for good smelt movement.
------------------------------------------------------
02/01/2007
SMELT
The Cowlitz River at Castle Rock was running 6,900 cubic feet per second Wednesday with a water temperature of 41 degrees in the lower Cowlitz and the Columbia River downstream of the Cowlitz. Water temperatures are still too cold for good smelt movement. No smelt were reported caught during Saturday's Cowlitz recreational smelt fishery.
------------------------------------------------------
02/01/2007
Smelt in Puget Sound and Lower Cowlitz River: "Smelt jig-fishing has been pretty good at the Cornet Bay pier on the incoming tide and high slack," Chamberlain said. "It has also been off and on for smelt at the Everett pier, but they are much smaller."
"No new reports of smelt caught in Lower Cowlitz," Hymer said. "Water temperatures are still a little cold and water flows have dropped down for good smelt movement."
Smelt dip-netting on the Cowlitz is open Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a 10-pound daily limit.
------------------------------------------------------
02/15/2007
Smelt
The Cowlitz River at Castle Rock is running at 6,000 cubic feet per second (below normal for this time of the year; mean is 13,500).
The temperature of the Columbia River downstream of the Cowlitz is 40 degrees and the lower Cowlitz River at the Salmon Hatchery is 41 degrees. Water temperatures are still a little cold for good smelt movement.
There has been bird activity reported near Church Hole in Chinook. No birds or seals were reported elsewhere on the lower Columbia or in the Cowlitz.
There were a couple of smelt dipped the first two Saturdays in January, but there have been no confirmed landings since then. No commercial landings have been reported to date.
------------------------------------------------------+
02/15/2007
Smelt in Puget Sound and Lower Cowlitz River: "Great smelt jig fishing on the Everett waterfront and the Cornet Bay pier [south of Deception Pass], and these are great quality fish," said Mike Chamberlain at Ted's Sports Center in Lynnwood. Still very slow for smelt in the Lower Cowlitz River due to cold water temperatures. Smelt dip-netting on the Cowlitz is open Saturdays from 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
-------------------------------------------------------
Smelt 03/04/2007
Smelt: Action in the Cowlitz has been fair at best, according to state creel checks. Anglers are finding fish, just not in large quantities.
-------------------------------------------------------
03/28/2007
Smelt: The action remains poor at best as we approach the final Saturday of fishing on the Cowlitz. The season shuts down at 10 p.m. Saturday.
