Steelhead are stealing the spotlight this week with catch rates climbing across multiple rivers and tributaries. Sockeye have nearly vanished, and while summer Chinook numbers are declining, anglers are still finding good success. Lakes Merwin and Yale are producing fish, albeit inconsistently, and sturgeon fishing continues to impress around Camas/Washougal. Overall, expect strong steelhead action, scattered Chinook catches, and warm-water challenges in slower systems.
Lewis River Flows on the Lewis have dropped to 1,800 cfs, exposing shallow tailouts and demanding extra caution for boaters. Anglers report a sharp increase in fish and catch rates throughout the week. Techniques like bobber dogging, plugs, and diver-and-bait setups have been especially productive from Johnson Creek to Cedar Creek. Eggs and coon shrimp are standouts both for trolling and bank casting.
Kalama River Action on the Kalama remains sluggish this week, with very few positive reports. Even seasoned anglers struggled to entice bites from Red Barn to Camp Kalama. With warm and low water conditions, early morning efforts and scaled-down presentations like coon shrimp-tipped jigs might improve your odds. Bank and boat efforts have yielded little, making this a tough spot for consistent success.
Washougal River Fishing is best early in the morning before swimmers flood the river and sunlight slows fish activity. Most anglers are finding success on coon shrimp under a bobber, with jigs making up only a small portion of catches. Historically, this is peak season for Washougal, with many fish in the system during mid-July. Spinners, jigs, and coon shrimp remain the most reliable options.
Cowlitz River This week saw strong returns at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery, with hundreds of Chinook and steelhead collected or released across multiple sites. Steelhead are showing excellent numbers below the I-5 bridge, and catch rates are high among boat anglers using bobber doggin with beads or eggs. Plunkers are scoring well with spin glows and coon shrimp in typical hot spots. With flows stable and recycling in full swing, the fishery should continue to produce through the week.
Columbia River Chinook season started strong, with many anglers reaching limits despite declining dam counts. Steelhead are out farther than usual this year, likely due to warmer water, but once located, anglers are reporting impressive success on plunking beaches. Sockeye season has largely fizzled, falling far short of projections. Adjust tactics and distance if bites are slow to come.
Sturgeon – Camas/Washougal Sturgeon fishing is still going strong, with reports of 10 to 15 fish days. Fish are well distributed, rather than concentrated in deeper river pockets. Target depths over 30 feet to increase the chances of finding active fish. One boat this week landed both sub-legal and legal keepers.
Merwin and Yale Lakes Kokanee fishing at Merwin and Yale remains inconsistent. Some days yield easy limits, while others are slowed by hot weather and pleasure boat traffic. The key this week has been small presentations like spin glows tipped with scented corn, often enhanced with tuna and garlic the night before. Downriggers set between 40-55 feet and flat lines with 4 oz of lead continue to produce bites.
Local Lakes and Ponds No reliable reports were collected this week due to high recreational pressure. Many lakes are packed with swimmers and boaters, limiting angler access and fish activity. Consider early morning outings or less popular lakes for better opportunities.
Read this week’s Oregon fishing report.