SW Washington fishing report
States reopen Chinook and coho retention on the mainstem Columbia. Drano Lake, Wind River, and Klickitat River good for Chinook.
Best weekend bets
- Mainstem Columbia River gets extra days for Chinook and coho.
- Drano Lake and Wind River Chinook still biting.
- Klickitat River good for Chinook.
- Tributary fall salmon good for early-run coho.
- Tributary steelhead fair.
- Columbia River walleye bite stays strong.
- Merwin kokanee good, but fish are darkening.
Regulations, Weather, and Stocking
Check the current Washington fishing regulations before heading out.
Cooling weather is on tap for the Woodland area. The weekend stays dry, then turns cooler with showers during the week. This past week’s rain likely won’t lift the rivers, which remain quite low.
No local trout stockings this week. Check the WDFW trout stocking report for updates.
Columbia River
The Saturday, September 15 flight count tallied 526 salmonid boats and 43 Washington bank rods from the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line up to Bonneville Dam.
On Wednesday, September 23, the states reopened the mainstem from Buoy 10 to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco for Chinook retention on Saturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27. Anglers may keep one Chinook as part of the daily limit.
The states also reopened coho retention through September 30, ahead of the scheduled October 1 reopener, so anglers can fish for coho straight through October.
Chinook catches dipped slightly last week while coho catches rose. Almost 60,000 coho have crossed Bonneville to date, with good daily counts continuing.
According to Gorge Outfitters Supply, few anglers are targeting walleye, with the Chinook bite drawing most of the pressure.
Cowlitz River
Over five days at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator, Tacoma Power recovered 653 coho adults, 136 coho jacks, 119 fall Chinook adults, 51 fall Chinook jacks, and 20 summer steelhead, along with a handful of spring Chinook and 40 cutthroat.
Flows below Mayfield Dam were 2,360 cfs on Monday, September 21, with eight feet of visibility and 52.2 degree water. Flows can change at any time, so stay alert.
Coho fishing is fair. Above the I-5 bridge, 42 bank anglers kept one coho and released seven coho including jacks. Nine boats (23 rods) kept 22 coho including jacks and released 29 Chinook and 15 coho.
Anglers below the bridge did not do as well. The best fishing is in the first mile or so below the Barrier Dam. Chinook cannot be retained on the Cowlitz, and quite a few wild coho are showing in the catch.
River gauges are available for Kelso, Castle Rock, and Mayfield Dam.
Mayfield Lake
Angler numbers are dropping at Mayfield, driven by the weather and strong salmon runs elsewhere. Boat anglers have seen the best action.
Lewis River
Fishing continues to improve, especially for coho, as more Chinook and coho enter the river. Only hatchery Chinook may be kept until October 1. The Woodland gauge rose slightly this past week and should hold near 8 feet.
Fall Chinook remain in good numbers, though the run may be past its peak. Early-run coho are now showing in very good numbers, collecting near the mouth of Colvin Creek and above.
The best fishing has been from the golf course up to the Woodland Hatchery, with anglers in Woodland also scoring. In the latest creel, 257 bank anglers kept 69 coho, seven coho jacks, and two steelhead. Twenty-three boats (43 rods) kept three Chinook, 18 coho, and five coho jacks.
Trevor Torppa of Chrome City Guide Service reports steelhead spread from the Merwin Dam deadline down to the golf course. Few anglers are targeting them with so many salmon in the river.
Merwin Reservoir
Kokanee fishing remains good as fish feed ahead of the spawn. They are moving toward Speelyai Bay and starting to darken, so quality will decline from here on.
Pressure remains heavy, though river salmon are starting to pull some anglers away.
Kalama River
The river remains very low. It may rise slightly before next week, but no substantial rise is expected. Fishing in the upper reaches is slow, with schools holding in the lowest holes below the Modrow Bridge awaiting a strong freshet.
In the latest creel, 11 bank anglers released one steelhead, and two boats (three rods) released one Chinook. The river is still too low for drift boats, so rafts remain the best way to float it.
Steelheading is rated fair. Trevor Torppa reports summer steelhead spread through the length of the river.
Drano Lake
Chinook fishing remains very good. In the latest creel, 31 bank anglers kept four Chinook and released seven Chinook and two steelhead. Sixty-four boats (214 rods) kept 112 Chinook, 26 Chinook jacks, and 10 coho.
Chinook counts over the dam are now slowing.
Wind River
Pressure increased this week, and catches followed. Three bank anglers had no catch. Twenty-eight boats (50 rods) kept 24 Chinook, three Chinook jacks, and eight coho, and released 17 Chinook, 13 coho, and one coho jack.
Klickitat River
The lower river below the Fisher Hill Bridge has given up quite a few Chinook, but fishing is still slow above the bridge. In the latest creel, 28 bank anglers kept seven Chinook and one Chinook jack, and released two Chinook and one steelhead.
Why aren’t there more days to fish above bonniville dam for the fall run. Seems like numbers are good.