SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Coho remain available in the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis Rivers. Fishing has tapered but fresh fish should be available into early November. There are still some chinook being taken on the Lewis River but most are dark. Two winter steelhead have already entered the fish trap on the Cowlitz River. Action is more likely to pick up around Thanksgiving. The White Salmon and Klickitat Rivers are still good options for coho and an occasional chinook. The White Salmon will close to fishing early next week as the Condit Dam is slated for blasting. Be prepared for a quick closure notice.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Coho fishing near district river mouths has been productive but seals and sea lions have recently put a damper on success rates in these burgeoning fisheries. Fish have begun to make their way upstream but seem more reluctant to bite the longer they spend in freshwater. Coho are present in good numbers in the Cowlitz and the Lewis is still putting out fair numbers of both chinook and coho. These two systems should get good numbers of coho for another few weeks. White Salmon and Klickitat River anglers are taking fair numbers of coho with an occasional chinook in the catch. Coho action should continue as chinook success begins to taper.

SW Washington Fishing Update

SW Washington – The Cowlitz, primarily around the mouth, is a target for many anglers seeking late run coho and the occasional chinook. Catches have been fair and with a recent upgrade in the early season coho numbers, catches are likely to be better than first anticipated.

October is actually a better month for district anglers targeting coho as many of the later returning fish are destined for the Lewis and Cowlitz systems.

The Lewis is also an option for chinook and coho although many of the chinook are turning dark.

The mouth of the Klickitat should be a good option for chinook and coho anglers although catches were light there over the weekend.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – On the Cowlitz, coho catches were good prior to the recent weather change but have since become challenging. Sea-run cutthroat trout action should also be picking up.

Chinook are available on many district streams but regulations vary by watershed so check carefully before heading out.

Salmon and steelhead counts are continuing to decline but action at Drano and the lower Klickitat should continue to pick up. Coho action should pick up when temperatures begin to drop in the coming weeks.