Late steelhead runs improving, early runs finishing up. Walleye bite in Columbia also improving. Big brooders/steelhead boost lowland lakes trout bite.
Best bets for weekend fishing
Late run steelhead arriving in Cowlitz, Kalama Rivers
Silver Lake crappie, yellow perch rated excellent
Lowland trout lakes fishing boosted by surplus steelhead, brooder trout
Last call for Washougal River, Salmon Creek, and Rock Creek winters
Columbia River walleye biting in The Dalles and John Day pools
Weather: SW WA is expected to remain dry until the weekend, when showers will arrive. There should not be enough precipitation to boost river flows. The continued dry weather will mean dropping river levels, and clearer water, except for the Cowlitz below the Toutle River, which will remain dirty through this week at least.
Cowlitz River
The river is still high and muddy, especially below the Toutle River. However, it is starting to clear. It is currently open for Hatchery Steelhead and Hatchery Chinook. Steelhead is slowly picking up and should start getting better. Best techniques are plunking in the lower river, with spin-n-glos and coon shrimp. Bobber fishing with beads, eggs and jigs has been effective in the upper river. A few fish are falling for spinners.
On January 19 the river was raised from about 5,000 CFS to 8,100 CFS. Temperature is about 45 degrees. Visibility is about 2 feet. You can check the Cowlitz River gauge below the Mayfield Dam here. State creel surveys will begin again in mid-February.
Mayfield Lake
Water clarity is currently slowing the trout fishing. Fish can be caught but fish slower. Use caution when boating, there is still lots of debris in the water from flooding. Best bet is trolling dodgers and lake trolls with a wedding ring tipped with worms or shrimp.
Lewis River
The Lewis is still seeing some hatchery steelhead, especially near the hatchery. Above Johnson Creek, there is a night closure and anti-snagging rules. Water conditions are not great but improving.
The first spring Chinook was caught on the Lewis River last weekend, lending hope to fishers that it might be a good season. The river is running at about 3,500 CFS at the gauge below Merwin Dam. You can check the Lewis River gauge just below the Merwin dam here.
This is the last year that anglers can target the early returning Chambers Creek stock of steelhead. The river has been switched over to the late returning steelhead stocks currently being used in the Cowlitz and Kalama rivers. The early returning stock tended to show in the late November, early December time frame. The late returning fish will be arriving in early January and peak in early March.
Kalama River
After the recent flooding, the Kalama has dropped but is still a little slow for steelhead. However, a few early winter Steelhead have already been taken. Best methods have been bobber fishing with Jigs, beads and eggs. Hardware can be good in the heads of the pools and tailouts.
Lake Merwin
The Kokanee fishing was good, but it has slowed some because of water conditions. The water level has been fluctuating, and the launch is usable again. Water clarity is still somewhat poor. This time of year, surface to 20 ft deep is best, so flatline trolling is the best option.
Trout Stocking
You can check the trout stocking report here.
Klineline Pond: stocked with 125 brood RB at 0.20 per pound on Jan. 5. Stocked with 2,000 RB at 1.96 per pound, and 2500 RB at 2.7 per pound on Jan. 13. This is mostly a bait show, with most anglers fishing Powerbait. However, once the fish have acclimated to the pond, they often start rejecting the Powerbait, so carry some natural baits. Salmon eggs, worms, and shrimp can be effective.
Battle Ground Lake: Stocked with 2,000 RB at 1.96 per pound on Jan. 13. Stocked with 3,000 RB at 2.5 per pound. This is also a mostly bait lake, with Powerbait the preferred offering. Bank anglers will do best from the fishing dock.
Little Ash Lake: Stocked with 30 Brood rainbows at 0.2 per pound, and 40 brooder RB at 0.1 per pound. Stocked with 2,000 RB at 2.5 per pound on Jan 14.
Thank you for the update