SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Steelhead are still the highlight on the Cowlitz River with best catches coming from the trout hatchery. Spring chinook appear to be on their way but a large run is not in the forecast.

The Kalama and Lewis systems are beginning to pick up for both chinook and steelhead. Peak season should occur closer to mid-May.

With the bump in Bonneville Dam passage, the Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries should get going. Catches will be best in the early season although the peak is still likely a few weeks away.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – The Cowlitz River is a district highlight with both bank and boat anglers catching fair numbers of steelhead in the primed system. Effort and catch is highest around the trout hatchery.

As for spring chinook, they are a rare catch in SW Washington streams. The Cowlitz and Lewis systems are seeing a few however.

Boaters are anxiously waiting for salmon numbers at Bonneville to improve to stimulate catches at Drano Lake and Wind River. Effort is low and so it the catch. Fishing will improve here in early May, assuming passage at Bonneville begins to ramp up.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – The Kalama, Cowlitz and Lewis are all forecast to receive adult returns of spring chinook in the coming weeks. Successful reports have been scarce lately but some fish are being taken in the dropping flows. The Cowlitz and Lewis are the best options.

Counts at Bonneville aren’t exciting enough to stimulate the Drano Lake fishery but a few anglers are trying. Catches have been sparse. Once Bonneville begins passing closer to 1,000 fish per day, fishing should pick up.

Sturgeon anglers tallied a few keepers in the Portland to Longview area which is surprising given the flows coming from upstream. With warming water temperatures, success rates should climb.

SW Washington fishing update

SW Washington – High water has hampered steelhead success on the Cowlitz, Lewis and Kalama Rivers. Steelhead remain available and the Cowlitz is one of the better options when flows drop.

Spring chinook should begin to show in fair numbers on the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers. Forecasts aren’t great however but peak season is fast approaching.

Bonneville Dam passage of spring chinook isn’t favorable enough to excite Drano Lake and Wind River salmon anglers. Late April is the better time and biologists expect significantly better passage to happen in the next few weeks.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington - Steelheading in the district has slowed somewhat as flows are on the rise from recent rains. Water releases on the Cowlitz this week will dampen steelhead catches but there are a few spring chinook in the system when flows come back down.

The Kalama and Lewis will remain options for steelhead and spring chinook should begin to show on these systems as well. Action should improve when flows subside.

Although salmon counts at Bonneville are improving, action at Drano Lake and Wind River likely won't pick up until late April. Predicted numbers of returning chinook however point to a more challenging season.