SW Washington fishing report + Columbia River action
Best weekend bets:
- Columbia River: walleye
- Goose Lake: trout
- Swift Reservoir: trout
Columbia River
The walleye bite remains very good, with fish running 1 to 3 pounds and schools holding 12 to 30 feet deep over gravel or rocky reefs, though schools can push deeper during hot spells. Water temperature at John Day Dam was 71.5 degrees as of Tuesday, August 4, and rising again after a brief dip.
Steelhead and salmon activity was steady, with 229 salmonid boats and 130 Washington bank rods counted on the August 1 flight. Catches slowed in the Cathlamet area but held up well near Longview, and a few early Chinook showed up near Vancouver.
Wildfire smoke and heat hit hard last week, but conditions are easing. Highs are dropping into the 70s and 80s by week’s end, westerly breezes should keep the air clear, and no air quality alerts are in effect.
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Cowlitz River
Tacoma Power crews recovered 155 Spring Chinook adults, 45 jacks, 516 mini jacks, 456 Summer-run Steelhead, and seven cutthroat trout over five days at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. As of July 17, 883 Summer-run Steelhead and five Spring Chinook adults have been recycled to the I-5 boat launch in Toledo.
Flows below Mayfield Dam were 2,690 cfs on July 20, with 11 feet of visibility and a water temperature of 54.3 degrees. The bite has slowed slightly but is still fair to good; a recent creel survey showed 47 boats/166 rods keeping one Chinook and 121 steelhead, with three Chinook released. Best action remains in the first few miles below Blue Creek.
Mayfield Reservoir
Trout fishing is fair to good. The lake was stocked with 2,660 catchable rainbows on July 29 and 2,800 catchable rainbows on July 21.
Lewis River
The river continues to drop and now sits around 8 feet, with further declines expected through August. Steelhead numbers are improving and fish are spread from the deadline at Merwin Dam down to the golf course.
Merwin Reservoir
Kokanee fishing is still good and the fish continue to grow well, though hot weather is keeping schools deep. The reservoir continues to see heavy pressure. Yale Lake offers a quieter alternative with slightly smaller fish.
Kalama River
Steelheading remains very good despite low water, with summer steelhead spread through the river and fish holding a bit higher in the system than usual. Boat traffic is light.
Klickitat River
Steelhead are in the system, but hot weather has the river running high and off-color, essentially unfishable until it cools down.
High Country Trout Lakes
Washington has roughly 1,600 high-elevation trout lakes, many stocked periodically with rainbows, brook trout, cutthroat, and occasionally brown or tiger trout. Fishing can be excellent since many of these fish have never seen a lure or fly, though wildfire smoke could be a factor depending on location.
Regulations and Algae Advisory
Anglers should check current Washington fishing regulations before heading out. Some lowland lakes are showing blue-green algae blooms; if the water looks pea-green or has a surface scum, keep pets and children out and check the state algae postings before fishing.
Good