Anglers sought to catch steelhead for
genetics study in Cowlitz Basin
VANCOUVER, Wash. - Anglers are invited to put their skills to work in a steelhead-genetics study in the Cowlitz River Basin.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), in cooperation with Friends of the Cowlitz and Tacoma Power, is organizing a hook-and-line fishery to help establish the genetic structure of steelhead populations in several tributaries to the Cowlitz River.
An orientation meeting for volunteers will be held at Saturday, March 15, at 1 p.m. at Tacoma Power's Mayfield office located at the end of Gershick Road, near Mayfield Dam.
All volunteer anglers will be required to submit their Wild identification number and their date of birth to sign up for the test fishery. They also must carry a valid Washington state fishing license and a valid photo identification on the fishing grounds.
The fishery is scheduled from late March through early June in lower Cowlitz River tributaries, focusing on late-winter run natural origin steelhead. Tributaries in the study include the Arkansas/Delameter/Monahan drainage, the Olequa/Stillwater/Campbell drainage, and the Ostrander drainage - all of which are closed to steelhead fishing by the general public.
Anglers will be required to release any steelhead they catch after a fin tissue sample the size of a paper hole punch is taken from each fish.
Questions about the test fishery should be directed to Julie Henning, WDFW fish biologist, at (360) 864-6133 or via email at hennijah@dfw.wa.gov .
