Steelhead action is beginning to taper off across Southwest Washington, while fall Chinook and coho are starting to push upriver.
Seth Kolshinski
Buoy 10 is heating up, and Kokanee fishing remains strong at Merwin and Yale despite signs of spawning.
Tributaries are seeing mixed results, with low flows and cotton buildup affecting success. Anglers who stay mobile and adapt to changing conditions are finding the best opportunities.
Lewis River
The Lewis is flowing at 1,300 cubic feet per second this week, just slightly above August’s typical low. Angler reports have been sparse, with most struggling to find fish.One lucky angler landed two steelhead in a single outing, but cotton and debris continue to make conditions tough.
Chinook are beginning to show as far up as Cedar Creek, and deeper holes are producing for those back-bouncing eggs and sand shrimp.
People are also reading…
Kalama River
Fishing pressure has shifted below the weir, which was recently installed. Most anglers are reporting slow action, with flossing attempts yielding little success.
Bank anglers are trying hard, but catches have been minimal. The river remains quiet for now, though Chinook and steelhead are still present in small numbers.
Washougal River
Summer lows have made the Washougal tough to fish, with many anglers reporting no bites. Early morning seems to offer the best chance, with a few fish caught right at first light.
Despite the conditions, fresh fish continue to push in, suggesting a promising season ahead. Bobber and coon shrimp or jigs are working best, while spinners have underperformed.
Cowlitz River
Tacoma Power’s hatchery operations continue to show strong returns of summer-run steelhead and spring Chinook. Blue Creek remains the hotspot, with both bank and boat anglers finding consistent success.
Bobber dogging with beads or eggs is the go-to method. The river should continue to fish well into the coming weeks, especially above the Interstate 5 Bridge.
Columbia River
Steelhead counts over Bonneville have surged past 4,000 daily, and plunkers are doing well across key locations. Kalama, Woodland, Vancouver, and Camas/Washougal are all producing, with Spin-N-Glos and coon shrimp leading the way.
Depth and tide timing remain critical for success. Bonneville has been especially productive from the sturgeon deadline to Ives Island.
Merwin and Yale lakes
Boat traffic has picked up with the warm weather, but Kokanee limits are still being found by dialed-in anglers. Signs of spawning are appearing, so the bite may slow soon.
Downsized Spin-N-Glos tipped with corn continue to outperform larger setups. Depth control and scent additives like tuna juice and garlic remain key to success.
Buoy 10
The season is off to a strong start, with steady catches despite heavy boat traffic and shifting tides. Outgoing tide near Desdemona Sands and west of the Astoria-Megler Bridge has been most productive.
Red and green label herring behind flashers are working well. Coho are showing strong early, and Chinook are present but more finicky depending on conditions.
Seth Kolshinski has been chasing steelhead and salmon in Southwest Washington since he can remember. Kolshinski uses his knowledge of year-round fishing from inland lakes to the coast to produce regular fishing forecasts for The Guide, a website launched in 1998 that offers fishing reports for Oregon and parts of Washington. Free reports like this one are available at www.theguidesforecast.com or people can become one of the 800 paid subscribers for more detailed reports.
