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 (but wildfire smoke could be an issue)
- Tributary steelhead fair to good.
- 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
Weather
Weekend weather near Woodland is expected to be partly cloudy Saturday, and sunny Sunday, with highs in the 80’s. The week will then turn hot, with highs in the 90’s. No rain is forecasted.
Fishing during blue-green algae (cyanobacterial) blooms
If you arrive at your favorite lake, and find the water to be a pea-green color, or if you see a greenish scum on the surface, do not let your dog in the water, and be careful not to make much contact with the water. These blooms can actually kill dogs. Use caution, keep your pets and children out of the water if there are signs of a bloom, and check the state website before you go fishing. You can check the Washington state algae postings here.
Columbia River
Walleye
Again, the good folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus are still reporting a good walleye bite, and even the recent hot weather has not slowed it any. The catch is mostly eating size walleye from 1 to 3 pounds, but larger fish are being taken in the mix. The schools reportedly are still holding from 12 to 30 feet over gravel or rocky reefs, but when it’s hot, they may be deeper. The best bite is coming by trolling the worm harnesses, with other techniques not proving as effective.
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Cowlitz River
River flows below Mayfield Dam were 2,330 cubic feet per second on Monday, July 27, 2026. Water visibility is 12 feet and water temperature is 53.7 (F).
Fishing guide Dave Mallahan of Fishing with Dave’s Guide Service, (360-201-9313) said the bite has been fair, and he is encountering some steelhead 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, which is the terminal spot for this fishery. Mallahan reported 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.
Lewis River
The Lewis River continues to drop, and is now sitting at about 8 feet. It will continue to drop over the next week and through the month of August. It will run low and clear. Steelhead are now showing in decent numbers, and the pressure has increased a bit, but fishing is only rated as fair. Fishing guide Trevor Torppa, owner of Chrome City Guide Service, reports that the fish are already spread through the system from the deadline at Merwin Dam through the golf course. Bobber and coon shrimp is working, and a few anglers are drifting, or pulling plugs. Hardware can be effective, too.
Kalama River
Steelheading on the Kalama River is still rated as very good by Trevor Torppa of Chrome City Guide Service. “If you go there, you are going to catch fish,” said Torppa. 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 fish are mostly falling for coon shrimp fished below a slip-bobber. He also said the fish are holding in the deeper holes most of the time.
Klickitat River
Buzz Ramsey, who lives on the Klickitat River, reports that some summer steelhead are starting to be caught on the river. However, the hot weather has the river looking like chocolate milk.
High elevation hike-in trout lakes
There about 1,600 high elevation trout lakes in western Washington. While most of these were fishless, many are now stocked periodically by the WDFW. Rainbows, brook trout, and cutthroat trout are usually stocked, but some lakes have brown trout, and tiger trout have been stocked in some of these lakes, too.
Check the WDFW high country trout webpage here.
Trout Stocking
There were not any fresh stockings in Region 5 last week. You can check the WDFW trout stocking reports here.