Lewis Report – The river continues flowing at a steady 2,800 cfs, with no changes expected until late June. Chinook fishing remains closed as the hatchery awaits more hens, while steelhead numbers are slowly increasing. There is speculation that Chinook may reopen soon, depending on escapement numbers.
Kalama Report – Fishing on the Kalama has slowed down this week, with bank anglers struggling to get bites. Steelhead are beginning to show, but catches remain minimal. The few boat anglers on the river are facing similar challenges as water levels drop.
Washougal Report – Fishing success has declined recently, with reports of few or no catches. Despite the bait reopening on May 25th, it has not had a noticeable impact yet. Water levels remain low, and swimmers are starting to appear in the afternoons, affecting fishing conditions.
Cowlitz Report – Hatchery operations recovered a mix of spring Chinook and steelhead last week, with several being released into various locations. Fishing pressure has declined significantly, and few reports of success have come in. Summer steelhead returns are increasing, though the first catches have yet to be reported.
Drano Lake/Wind River – Drano Lake is beginning to show signs of slowing, with bank fishing becoming particularly difficult. Trolling remains the most effective method for catching fish, but limits are harder to come by. The Wind River spring season is essentially over, with few fish being caught and little incentive for anglers to make the trip.
Columbia River – The lower Columbia has been slow this week, with few successful fishing reports. WDFW announced major changes to the 2025 summer fishery, including no Chinook opener and a short sockeye season in late June. Steelhead fishing will be open from June 16th through July.
Merwin and Yale Lake – Both lakes continue to produce excellent fishing, with limits coming quickly for most anglers. Pike minnows and debris have caused some minor challenges, but fish remain active. The most successful catches are occurring between 30-40 feet down.
Local Lakes and Ponds – Trout fishing is tapering off, while bass and other warm-water species are becoming more active. Reports from Lacamas Lake indicate slow fishing, with perch being the most common catch. Battle Ground Lake and Horseshoe Lake saw little fishing activity, as warm weather encouraged more swimmers than anglers.
Read this week’s Oregon fishing report.
The problem with fishing in Battle Ground Lake is one: the swimming area is no longer defined by a float rope and the swimmers and kiddy rubber rafts literally cut right across your lines. As anglers we are not permitted to fish in the currently unmarked area for swimming. I have no problem with that, however they should not be swimming in the areas where we are fishing. I have seen swimmers completely block the boat launch area making it difficult for people to launch there watercraft.