This week in SW Washington we have tributary steelhead slowing on most rivers while the Cowlitz is just getting started. Snow and Ice is turning into warm and wet weather this week which should warm up the rivers and pull some fresh fish into the systems. Merwin is still providing for anglers although limits are few and far between, but kokanee anglers are spending their time getting ready for the annual Lake Chelan Kokanee Tournament. This week’s razor clam dig has gone well although very cold temps have discouraged efforts.
REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of water. AND wear a life jacket.
Lewis Report – The Lewis was lowered to 2,000 cfs and fishing has been terribly slow. I went out on Sunday 2/9/25 with the main goal to break in my freshly rebuilt Yamaha 90 hp but to do some fishing with Tanner Tyler as well. We didn’t even have as much as a bite and talked with several other sleds who all had the same answer. I also talked with Nick Taylor who was out the previous day and struck out, he also mentioned talking with Cameron Black who also struck out that day. If those two guides couldn’t find a fish there just aren’t very many around.
Kalama Report – The Kalama is low at around 350 cfs this week and has been kind of a one-fish river as it seems most boats are getting one and are lucky to find two. I fished with Owen Corbett and Tanner Tyler on Saturday 2/8/25 and we found one fish at the very first hole we pulled into but didn’t get so much as a bite through anywhere else. We talked with several other boats and they all seemed to have just one fish. I did talk with reader Shawn Chase who landed one up in the canyon and lost another in the same hole.
Cowlitz Report – Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 23 winter-run steelhead adults over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released one winter-run steelhead adult into the Tilton River at Bremer Bridge. River flow below Mayfield Dam is 8,310 cubic feet per second on Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
Washougal River – The Washougal is fishing very slowly this week and is very low and is well below the level required to float the river. Owen Corbett has been spending afternoons fishing the river this week and hasn’t touched a fish. He did see one angler land a nice wild hen at three miles on Wednesday 2/12/25 but that was the only fish he had seen all week.
Merwin and Yale Lakes – Merwin have been hit or miss again this week with limits being few and far between. The average take home has been around six fish a person although some seasoned Merwin anglers are still pulling in their ten fish. Randy Howe found his limit after launching around daylight and fishing until early afternoon but several other anglers he talked to were trying to find those final three or four fish for their limit when they got off the water. The water temp is sitting around 41 this week.
Local lakes and ponds – Lakes and ponds reports are back! Trout plants are starting to happen again with both Klineline and Battleground Lake receiving plants of rainbow trout Tuesday 2/11/25. Battle Ground received 2,750 while Klineline received 1,200. Both Lakes also received a plant of 1,500 rainbows at the end of January.
Long Beach – Tides aren’t fantastic this week nor are the times but the harvesting has been good and people are finding limits quickly! No surf perch fishing report this week!
Feb. 13, Thursday, 7:01 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Feb. 14, Friday, 7:32 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Stay fishy,
Seth Kolshinski
Read this week’s Oregon fishing report.