SW Washington Fishing Report

SW Washington – The Cowlitz remains the best option for spring chinook anglers and catches of summer steelhead are starting to improve. Salmon are starting to concentrate in greater numbers between the hatcheries. On Tuesday, fishery managers closed the Lewis River to the retention of all spring chinook (hatchery and wild) due to low returns back to the hatchery. The river remains open to summer steelhead. Wind River and Drano Lake anglers are seeing a slowing of action as dam counts slow. Effort will re-focus in the upper reaches of these drainages where managers have increased the daily bag limit because the respective hatcheries have exceeded their egg take needs.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – The Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis Rivers are peaking for spring chinook although the Cowlitz is clearly the best option. These fisheries should remain viable for another 2 weeks but the Cowlitz will remain a top bet with summer steelhead readily available too. Catch rates on the Wind River and Drano Lake remain good with a fish for every 3 rods on average. Adult salmon passage at Bonneville is slowing and will likely subsequently slow in these fisheries as well. Bonneville shad anglers are scoring good numbers in shallow water.

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – The Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis Rivers are all options for spring chinook and a few summer steelhead. The Cowlitz remains the top prospect however. The Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries are peaking right now. Action has been as good as a fish for every 3 rods from both the bank and boat fisheries. With passage at Bonneville still good, the action should remain equally good through this weekend as well. Summer steelhead are present in the Washougal River but this systems is still several weeks away from peaking. Soapbox Update: Time is running out to register for the annual Bounty on the Bay event being held on June 1st and 2nd this year. Spring chinook fishing in Tillamook Bay is heating up with pro guide Bob Rees (503-812-9036) reporting a large number of spring chinook staging at the bay entrance. Bob fished for just 3 hours on Wednesday, getting 11 bites, bringing 7 fish to the boat but only landing 4. It looks like an awesome year ahead! Register at the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership Bounty on the Bay web page, here: http://www.tbnep.org/

SW Washington fishing report

SW Washington – Catches of spring chinook and summer steelhead are starting to ramp up on the Cowlitz. Most of the action is taking place near the salmon hatchery but with peak season coming on, anglers will get more concentrated as the returning adults do. The Kalama and Lewis Rivers will also see a jump in angling success as flows moderate. Returns to these systems aren’t as strong as the Cowlitz but neither is the effort. With counts at Bonneville ramping up, success rates at Drano Lake and the Wind River will climb as well. Anglers were averaging about a fish for every 8 rods but effort and success should improve markedly this week. Plugs, herring and prawns can all produce good catches in the weeks ahead.

SW Washington fishing

SW Washington – The Cowlitz will continue to be the strongest option for spring chinook and summer steelhead but the Kalama and Lewis Rivers will also be viable options for the next 4 weeks. Unfortunately, flows remain high hampering angler success. Anglers are likely to see peak catches later than normal, with action likely to get better towards the end of the month. As Bonneville counts begin to swell, so should catches in the Wind River and Drano Lake fisheries. Drano fished excellent last Wednesday but has dropped off ever since. Regulations have changed here in recent years so be sure to check your favorite destination before venturing out.