Things really don't look that good at the Barrier Dam the past week. Fish counts on the December 15 were 413 winter run steelhead. Most all of those fish have been recycled at lease once back downstream to I-5 boat ramp.

This week (December 29) they only took in 138 winter runs with 1 summer run. They recycled 114 down to Olequa and 57 down to I-5. That means that they are recycling fish from the trout hatchery now too.

Sounds like fishing will be slow unless those numbers pick up by next week. River flows have been pretty stable during that 2 week period (about 5200 cfs) so that would indicate that the run has already started to head downward. River flows jumped today to about 5900 cfs, so it may be good for a short time up at the Barrier dam.

Good luck

Cowlitzfisherman