In the last week, there have been some second- and third-hand reports that some spring chinook are making their way into the Cowlitz River.

Well, we now have official confirmation.

Joe Hymer, a state fish biologist, just sent an e-mail saying a hatchery adult spring chinook returned to Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery earlier this week.

State officials have also reported seeing more and more boat and bank anglers in the Columbia River in the last two weeks. Still nowhere near the 2,000 boats that can be counted during the peak of the springer run, but it’s evidence more fish are entering …

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Joe Hymer, a fish biologist with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, just passed along this little tidbit about a coho salmon in today’s Tacoma Power Cowlitz fish report.

Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 726 summer-run steelhead, 360 spring chinook adults, 51 jacks, 107 mini-jacks and one sockeye salmon during five days of operation at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.

It turns out the sockeye salmon was the same fish that returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator three times last week.  The fish was recycled downstream to the Massey Bar boat launch on the Cowlitz River.

There is …

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The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking for up to 12 people to serve on what could be an important group dealing with salmon and steelhead stocks on the Cowlitz River. The department announced Tuesday it was seeking nominations for its new Cowlitz River advisory group.

Members the ad hoc group will meet monthly for about a year to develop recommendations for improving conservation and sustainable fishing opportunities on the river, said a department news release.

A major focus of the group will be to advise the department staff in updating the Fishery and Hatchery Management …

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NOAA’s Fisheries Service said earlier today it is listing Pacific smelt as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The move should come as no surprise to anyone who has tried dipping for smelt in places like the Cowlitz River the last several years. The season has dwindled along with the runs to the point where there were just four days of recreational dipping allowed this year in just the Cowlitz.

A “threatened” species is in danger of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future. An “endangered” species is one in danger of extinction in all or part of its range. …

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The state Department of Fish and Wildlife will allow smelt dipping in the Cowlitz River to just four days this winter, citing another poor run of smelt expected to return to the Columbia River and its tributaries

Recreational smelt dipping on the Cowlitz River will be limited to Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. with a 10-pound daily limit.

“This fishery is primarily intended to provide information on the size of this year’s smelt run and to avoid significant impacts on the population,” said Brad James, a state fish biologist, said in a …

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