Heavy rain has blown out most SW Washington rivers, with high, chocolate-colored water keeping anglers off tributaries and shutting down Yale and Merwin due to color and low launchable levels. A few systems are beginning to fall, but most remain unfishable heading into the weekend, and forecasts suggest meaningful improvement may not arrive until early next week. Razor clamming has tentative dates set later this month, offering a safer bet while rivers recover. Expect limited bank access on major systems at current flows, with plunking only becoming viable as levels drop. If conditions keep easing, bedrock-influenced rivers may come back into shape first, but the timeline hinges on how much more rain arrives.
LEWIS REPORT No reports this week as the Lewis climbed to a massive 27,000 cfs and turned chocolate brown, making it near impossible to find fishable areas. The river has not started dropping, and with rain likely through the weekend and reservoirs still filling, the best hope is next weekend. At 27,000 cfs, bank access is effectively non-existent for plunking or bobber fishing. Unless flows drop by around 15,000 cfs, look to faster recovering rivers nearby. Lewis River – No effort reported.
KALAMA REPORT Like other rivers, the Kalama is at flood levels, but unlike the Lewis, it is actively starting to fall. Because it is mostly bedrock, it can fall back into shape more quickly and could be fishable heading into the weekend. The amount of rain still coming is the big variable. Plunking in the lower stretches could be a great option as fish travel and do not hold until flows drop more. Bright size two or four spin glows with white wings, tipped with coon shrimp, are a go-to in higher water. Kalama River – No effort reported.
WASHOUGAL REPORT The Washougal is the highest it has ever been, though it is crashing down fast. It could recover heading into the weekend, depending on Thursday and Friday rain totals. Plunking becomes a fantastic choice once the water gets below 3,000 cfs, especially along the banks near the old bowling alley. After it falls into shape, expect a good push of fish, as consistent catches were just starting before the heavy rain. Size four and six spin glows in bright colors and black have worked best here.
COWLITZ REPORT Last week’s hatchery separator counts included 2,134 coho adults, 41 coho jacks, two fall Chinook adults, four summer-run steelhead, two winter-run steelhead, and 38 cutthroat trout over six days. Releases included coho to Franklin Bridge in Packwood, the Cispus near Yellowjacket Creek, Lake Scanewa at Day Use Park, and the Tilton at Bremer Bridge and Gust Backstrom Park. River flow below Mayfield Dam was 3,430 cfs on Monday, December 8, 2025. On the water, the Cowlitz has been high and brown, with one Blue Creek report noting casts limited to a few feet off the bank into weeds and sticks, making effective fishing impossible. The forecast is straightforward, the river likely will not drop into shape until Monday or Tuesday next week. Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – No WDFW Creel report this week. Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Bridge – No WDFW Creel report this week.
COLUMBIA RIVER No report this week.
MERWIN AND YALE LAKE Merwin and Yale are chocolate brown and below launchable height. No one spent any time on either reservoir this week due to rain and water color. The last time rain was this heavy, it took a few weeks before either reservoir cleared up. Conditions are not favorable and recovery will take time. Picture via Sam Arola of Yale Reservoir, Tuesday 10/9/25.
LONG BEACH AND BUOY 10 Tentative razor clamming dates have been set. Dec. 18, Thursday, 5:34 p.m., -0.2 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis. Dec. 19, Friday, 6:09 p.m., -0.4 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks. Dec. 20, Saturday, 6:44 p.m., -0.5 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks. Dec. 21, Sunday, 7:19 p.m., -0.4 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis. Dec. 22, Monday, 7:54 p.m., -0.3 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis. Dec. 23, Tuesday, 8:31 p.m., -0.1 feet, Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks.