Ai+Sasquatch
THE WEEKLY HATCHERY SCOOP “Harrumph! 1314 paltry fish at Cowlitz? Back in my day, a single creek coughed up more than that! Kalama Falls and Skookumchuck? Pathetic. And Lake Aberdeen? Might as well serve ’em up as appetizers for a hummingbird. These numbers are so depressing even Stephen Hawking couldn’t explain ’em away. Pro Tip: … Read more
Action: Opens one additional day of white sturgeon retention (March 3). Species affected: White sturgeon. Location: Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam and all adjacent Washington tributaries. Effective dates and sturgeon rules: Feb. 25: Catch-and-release fishing only. Feb. 26: Daily limit one. Minimum fork length 43 inches. Maximum fork length 54 … Read more
Action: Opens Razor clam seasons. Effective dates: Feb. 26–March 4, 2026. Species affected: Razor Clams. Specific evening low tides and beaches that are open (digging allowed from 12:00 P.M. (noon) through 11:59 P.M.): Feb. 26, Thursday, 2:26 p.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis Feb. 27, Friday, 3:29 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin … Read more
Action: Sets 2026 spring Chinook seasons. Species affected: Spring Chinook, hatchery steelhead, shad Columbia River locations, dates, and rules: From the Buoy 10 line upstream to Beacon Rock (a deadline marker on the Oregon bank (approximately 4 miles downstream of Bonneville Dam’s Powerhouse One) in a straight line through the western tip of Pierce Island … Read more
Action: Opens two days of white sturgeon retention (Feb. 22 and Feb. 26). Species affected: White sturgeon. Location: Columbia River from The Dalles Dam to John Day Dam and all adjacent Washington tributaries. Effective dates and sturgeon rules: Immediately–Feb. 21: Catch-and-release fishing only. Feb. 22: Daily limit one. Minimum fork length 43 inches. Maximum fork … Read more
Action: Opens one day of eulachon smelt retention in the lower Cowlitz River. Effective date: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. Species affected: Eulachon smelt. Location: Cowlitz River, from the Highway 432 Bridge near Kelso upstream to the Al Helenberg Memorial Boat Ramp, located about 1,300 feet upstream of the Highway 411/A … Read more
Listen up, Sekiu, you little sprout! Grandpa Sasquatch’s gonna tell you a story, one that’ll curdle your milk, but one you NEED to hear. Been flappin’ these furry wings of mine for fifteen centuries now, seen things that would make your hair turn grayer than my beard – and that’s saying something! Back when the … Read more
THE WEEKLY HATCHERY SCOOP “Hmph. 860 puny salmon back to Cowlitz? Pathetic. Skamania’s got 463, Kalama Falls, a measly 306. Skookumchuck ain’t much better at 303. Back in my day, son, we wrestled salmon bigger than your entire hatchback. Hawking in his chair coulda caught more. These hatchery fish are soft. Pro Tip: Learn to … Read more
Action: Opens one day of Eulachon smelt retention in the lower Cowlitz River. Rules: Daily limit is 10 pounds only. Harvesters may use handheld dipnets only. It is unlawful to harvest smelt from a vessel. Effective date: 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 18, 2026, only. Species affected: Eulachon smelt. Location: Cowlitz River, from Highway 432 … Read more
THE WEEKLY HATCHERY SCOOP “Fish are in.” >> Get Tactical Salmon Gear (Amazon)