SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Most area streams are slow for steelhead but anglers working the Kalama still have an opportunity for late run hatchery steelhead. Wild fish will begin to show in better numbers on some district streams.

Smelt are likely to make a show in the Cowlitz River on the Saturday sport opener. Water temperatures have finally topped 40 degrees and commercial catches in the mainstem jumped last week indicating a pilot run is en route. Check regulations prior to dipping on Saturday as the bi-state fishery managers will be looking at the run status during Friday’s compact hearing.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Anglers anxiously await the districts spring chinook run but late run steelhead should show up on better numbers in the coming weeks. Warmer weather conditions should improve success rates with the Kalama and Cowlitz likely to be the top producers.

Smelt may make a showing in the lower Cowlitz with the upcoming warming trend as well but forecasted numbers don’t promise to deliver great catches on the Saturday openers.

SW Washington fiishing update

SW Washington – Still no sign of smelt in the Cowlitz and mainstem Columbia. River temperatures, both the Cowlitz and Columbia, remain too cold for fish to migrate.

Hatchery workers are seeing their first returns of second run steelhead on the Cowlitz. Although bank anglers are still challenged in finding fish, boaters fishing the Blue Creek area tagged steelhead in recent days.