Shad Run Begins and Summer Steelhead Improve

SW Washington fishing report

Drano Lake, Wind River springers continue slowing. Tributaries seeing more steelhead catches, springers slow. Swift Reservoir, Swift Power Canal gets first trout stockings. 

Best weekend bets
Drano Lake, Wind River springer bite slows
Tributary spring Chinook fair to poor
Columbia River walleye bite remains very good
Tributary summer steelhead improving
Columbia River shad run beginning
Over 37,000 catchable rainbow trout stocked in Swift Reservoir
Lowland trout lakes fishing rated good all around
The Trout Derby began the 25^th, prizes available.
Bass and panfish active in local lakes

Weather
The weekend should see partly cloudy skies, with 60s Saturday, and 70’s Sunday. The week will warm into the 80’s early, and then run into the 70’s, with partly cloudy conditions prevailing all week. Rains this past week may have lifted some of the smaller systems.

Columbia River
Salmon
During the last lower river fishery, 342 boats and 401 Washington bank rods were tallied on the flight count Sunday, May 24. Catches were best among bank anglers at Bonneville, and boat anglers did the best near Kalama.

Walleye
Wendy Boyer at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus said the walleye bite has continued to be good, and with the warmer weather she said some of the schools are looking for deeper water. However, Boyer said her most recent trip saw the schools holding from 12 feet to about 30 feet. The best bite is coming on the worm harnesses, which she said is the most effective for catching loads of eating-sized male walleye, which run form a pound up to 5 pounds. Fishing guide Buddy Dupell of Columbia River Fishing Adventures also reports excellent fishing for walleyes. 

Shad
Shad are beginning to gather below Bonneville Dam. During the latest creel survey at the dam, two bank anglers kept 11 shad. 1 boat/ 2 rods kept 11 shad. As of Wednesday, May 27, 81,000 shad had crossed the Bonneville Dam. Somewhere between 3 and 6 million shad are expected over the next month. Most anglers fish shad darts from the bank, but a few boat anglers target them at the Shad Rack just below Bonneville Dam.

Cowlitz River
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 19 Winter-run Steelhead, 843 Spring Chinook adults, 286 Spring Chinook jacks, one Spring Chinook mini jack, and 51 Summer-run Steelhead over five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator. As of Friday, May 22, 2026, Tacoma Power has recycled 142 Summer-run Steelhead and four Spring Chinook adults this season to the I-5 boat launch in Toledo. River flows below Mayfield Dam were 4,600 cubic feet per second on Monday, May 26, 2026. Water visibility is 9 feet and water temperature is 49.5 (F). River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.

Drano Lake
The springer continues to slow, according to Dave Mallahan of Daves Guide Service (360) 201-9313. In the latest state creels, six bank anglers had no catch. 41 boats/ 88 rods kept 16 Chinook, and one jack. With the bite slowing, fewer anglers are fishing here, easing the crowding. While the action has been best in the Toilet Bowl, a few have been taken in the main lake, mostly early in the morning. Most anglers are trolling with the plastic cut-plug baits behind 360 flashers. Bank anglers are mostly throwing plugs and spinners.
Remember that the lake is closed for the tribal fisheries on Wednesdays.

Trout stocking
You can check the WDFW trout stocking reports here.

Goose Lake
The lake was stocked on May 21 with 198 cutthroat at one pound apiece. These are the last cutthroat that have been kept at the soon-to-be-mothballed Skamania Hatchery.  The state will no longer plant cutthroat trout in Goose Lake. Anglers can take trout at Goose Lake by trolling dodgers and the plug-cut type plastic baits, tossing flies, fishing bait from the bank, or throwing spinners.

Mayfield Reservoir
The reservoir was stocked on May 21 with 5,400 catchable rainbows at 2.7 per pound.

Battle Ground Lake
The lake was stocked with 4,500 catchable rainbows at 1.98 per pound on May 20.

Klineline Pond
The lake was stocked with 2,500 rainbows at 1.98 per pound on May 20.

Swift Power Canal
The Canal was stocked with 3,500 rainbows at 2.5 per pound on May 2. Fishing Powerbait along the bottom is the most popular method.

Swift Reservoir
The reservoir was stocked with 37,900 catchable rainbows at 2,5 per pound on May 20. Trolling with dodgers or lake trolls and spinners, hoochies, or bait, should draw bites.