SW Washington fishing report
Cowlitz, Kalama best tribs for steelhead. Columbia Gorge walleye bite continues. High country trout biting, panfish good in local lakes.
Best weekend bets
- Hike-in trout lakes offer good fishing, solitude, scenery
- Cowlitz/Kalama steelhead fair to good, other tribs slow
- Columbia River walleye bite still very good
- Swift Reservoir, power canal trout good
- Goose Lake trout bite very good
- Bass and panfish biting in lowland lakes
Fishing during blue-green algae (cyanobacterial) blooms
As temperatures heat up during spring and summer, be on the watch for harmful algae blooms when recreating in Oregon lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Before you go fishing, check water quality conditions at the Oregon Health Authority website.
Columbia River
Walleye
The good folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus continue to report a good walleye bite, although the hot days are proving to slow the bite mid-day. There have been lots of eating size walleye, and a few larger fish in the catch. The schools reportedly are still holding from 12 to 30 feet over gravel or rocky reefs. The best bite is coming by trolling the worm harnesses, which is the most proven method for summer walleyes.
Salmon/Steelhead
Steelhead is still open, but sockeye and Chinook are closed. 54,451 summer Chinook have crossed over Bonneville as of Tuesday, and that beats the forecast by quite a bit. But still no word on whether anglers will be allowed any retention days. The fisheries managers go by what shows in the upper river, not at Bonneville.
Cowlitz River
Fishing guide Dave Mallahan of Fishing with Dave’s Guide Service, (360-201-9313) said the bite has been fairly good, and he is encountering a few fish each day out. He is getting them by bobber-dogging, which is what most boat anglers are doing. Catches have been best in the first few miles below Blue Creek. At the business end, he said the fish are taking salmon eggs, beads, and coon shrimp. Bank anglers at the mouth of the creek usually employ bobber methods, although some are drifting and spinners will also take the fish.
Cowlitz River gauges
You can check the river gauge at Kelso here. You can check the river gauge at Castle rock here. You can check the river gauge at the Mayfield Dam here.
Mayfield Reservoir
Mayfield Reservoir was stocked on July 21 with 2,800 catchable rainbows at 1.4 fish per pound. It was also stocked on May 14 with 2,500 catchable rainbows at 1.25 per pound. Fishing is rated fair to good for trout.
Lewis River
Fishing guide Trevor Torppa, owner of Chrome City Guide Service, reports that his guides have just started targeting the river, and the steelheading is improving, but slowish. Coon shrimp has been a good bait, but some fish are being taken with hardware.
Merwin Reservoir
Lake Merwin was stocked with 1,647 jumbo rainbow trout at .3 per pound on July 13. It was also stocked on the same date with 3,464 jumbo rainbows at .7 per pound. Kokanee angers may encounter these fish, adding some extra excitement.
Kokanee fishing is good, and the kokes continue to grow well. The sunny weather this weekend and into next week should push them deeper. Your electronics will be critical to locate the right depth to target.
Kalama River
Steelheading on the Kalama River is still rated as good by Trevor Torppa of Chrome City Guide Service. Chrome City guides have been floating the Kalama River, and he reports that although the river is low, there are summer steelhead spread through the length of the river. The best success early in the day is in the river below the Modrow Bridge, where Torppa said the freshest fish in the system can be found. The best bite has come on coon shrimp, but spinners often work in the fast water.
Trout Stocking
Mayfield Reservoir was stocked on July 21 with 2,800 catchable rainbows at 1.4 fish per pound. It was also stocked on May 14 with 2,500 catchable rainbows at 1.25 per pound.
Mineral Lake was stocked with 1,688 brown trout at 2.5 per pound on July 14. It was also stocked with 1,063 catchable rainbows at 2.5 per pound.
Lake Merwin was stocked with 1,647 jumbo rainbow trout at .3 per pound on July 13. It was also stocked on the same date with 3,464 jumbo rainbows at .7 per pound.
You can check the WDFW trout stocking reports here.