Fishing across Southwest Washington has been a mixed bag this week. Sockeye returns on the Columbia River have greatly underwhelmed expectations, while steelhead activity is showing promise with rising dam counts. Summer Chinook is also making a comeback with planned reopenings. Tributary steelhead remains slow, though some standout spots like the Washougal are keeping spirits high.
Lewis River
Flows have held steady around 2,100 cfs, but fishing has followed the same stagnant trend. Despite several boats working the river, no catches were reported—anglers are still waiting for a bite. Cotton in the air has made fishing tough, hampering both plug running and plunking techniques. The summer steelhead run is late to bloom here, but Bonneville’s rising counts offer hope.
Kalama River
Evening checks revealed just a handful of anglers, none with luck. The river remains low and clear, demanding cautious floating and scaled-down gear. New fish are arriving daily, so don’t write off the Kalama yet—bobber and coon shrimp setups are still your best bet. The hatchery is expected to see heavier returns soon, especially in the lower river.
Washougal River
The Washougal is the week’s shining star with fresh summer steelhead in good numbers from the mouth to the Mercantile deadline. Low water means targeting deeper holding holes is key, and the morning bite remains most productive. Recycled fish are being reintroduced, likely fueling further action. Beads, shrimp, and especially spinners have proven effective.
Cowlitz River
Tacoma Power’s recent releases have bolstered the river with hundreds of Chinook and steelhead, but action remains hit-or-miss. Blue Creek has been the hotspot, especially for early risers using bobber dogging and side drifting with eggs or beads. Plunking hasn’t produced much, though increased flows in mid-July might help. A few keepers were reported, but consistent success has been elusive.
Columbia River
Sockeye fishing has faltered badly—low counts and weed problems have made things tough. Steelhead, by contrast, is improving, with plunkers at Glass Beach and Frenchman’s seeing decent catch rates. Chinook is reopening and expected to perform well, particularly around Kalama and Woodland. Wobbler fishing could be fruitful with forecasted run sizes climbing.
Sturgeon
Sturgeon fishing has been exceptional again this week. Camps around Lady Island are reporting 10–20 fish days, with sandshrimp paired with worms or sardines emerging as the top bait combo. Depths between 45–60 feet have held fish near the Sandy River and at camp. Pickiness has been a factor, but perseverance is paying off.
Merwin and Yale Lakes
Kokanee fishing is slow overall, hindered by debris and wake boat pressure. Limits are scarce, with most anglers coming away with just a few fish. Downriggers are outperforming long-line setups, especially when adjusted to fish finder readings. Early morning continues to be the window for success—spin glows and wigglers tipped with corn or maggots have done well.
Local Lakes and Ponds
Lacamas and Battleground Lakes were busy with swimmers this Sunday but still showed promise. Bass are hitting topwater early, then shifting deeper mid-day. Soft plastics and jigs have worked well, while catfish are biting at Lacamas though on the small side. Bluegill and crappie action remains strong, making these lakes ideal for a kid-friendly outing.
Stay fishy,
Seth Kolshinski
Read this week’s Oregon fishing report.
Hi, I was curious if Silverlake in Cowlitz County is known for anything other than occasional Bass tournaments or not. What is the perception of your body of experts regarding fishing on Silverlake?