This week in our SW Washington fishing report, Summer steelhead fishing has continued to hold steady in most tributaries. Early signs of a great Chinook and Coho season are starting to show. Late August can be some of the best fishing of all year for a multitude of species. Kokanee fishing is slowing in some lakes and the fish are becoming soft and getting ready for prespawn.
REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of water. AND wear a life jacket.
Lewis Report
The river has held steady, since the drop on August 1st, right around 1,300 CFS and 1.6 ft gage height as of Tuesday 8/9/23 this remains high enough for sleds to get around and I would imagine drift boats as well. Please exercise extreme caution if you decide to go out even if you think you know the river, it’s that time of year that the rock you forgot about will be poking out enough to hit. The cotton is all but gone which has allowed for a better presentation of baits. Fishing has been good with fish around but anglers have needed to put the time and effort into chasing them.
Kalama Report
I was not able to make the drive this week but reports and the creel checks have not looked promising as of late with 13 bank rods releasing three steelhead per WDFW. I have heard the river is very low, clear low water techniques should be used, think small and dark presentations. Escapement shows a large amount of steelhead returning to the hatchery this week as well so the fish are most definitely there, find where they are holding and present your bait correctly to catch one. It also shows a return of 140 fall Chinook but that number is way skewed as a large portion of those are going to be very old springers.
Cowlitz Report
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 195 summer-run steelhead adults, 106 spring Chinook adults, 49 spring Chinook jacks, 131 spring Chinook mini-jacks, and ten cutthroat trout over four days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released 93 spring Chinook adults, 6 spring Chinook jacks, two spring Chinook mini-jacks, and five cutthroat trout into Lake Scanewa at the Copper Canyon Take-Out Site and they released four cutthroat trout into the Tilton River at Bremer Bridge. Tacoma power will start working on the boat launch at Blue Creek the day this is posted they did not say how long it will take though they are going to attempt to make at least one launch available if possible. They did say to make other plans if possible.
Escapement reports show Cowlitz River I-5 Br downstream – 32 bank rods had no catch. 1 boat/2 rods had no catch. Cowlitz River Above the I-5 Br – Two bank rods had no catch. 9 boats/25 rods kept 22 steelhead.
Washougal Report
The Washougal looks like a creek currently and every time I drive by it looks lower and lower, low clear water techniques have been needed. Beckham Schill reports doing well in the lower portion of the river even picking up an early fall Chinook on Wednesday 8/9/23.
Columbia River
Early fall salmon fishing has been a little slow but that’s to be expected. Trolling high or low slack tide in the early mornings has provided anglers with the little success they’ve had. Hover fishing near the mouth of the Lewis has also been successful. Steelhead is closed for retention on the Columbia as of 8/1/23. Smallmouth bass have still been biting really well in recent weeks near rocky shores and fallen trees.
Drano Lake and Wind River
Drano continues to produce a good number of fish even though you can’t keep steelhead. Fishermen have been doing great for steelhead and chinook hovering bait and trolling hardware. There is fishing moving in and out and soon it will be packed. Creel reports read nine bank rods had no catch. 58 boats/145 rods kept 13 Chinook and released one Chinook and 32 steelhead.
Warm Water Lakes and Ponds
As we start to approach the last month of summer the lakes and ponds in SW Washington are heating up and the sunfish are prevalent near fallen trees, under docks, and in heavy weeds. Bass fishing has been great especially in the morning and later towards sunset. Catfish continues to be a great night fishing choice as long as it is allowed at your lake.
Lake Merwin
Kokanee has still been producing in the early hours of the morning although slowing and some fish are starting to get soft and ready for prespawn. Still waiting to hear a catch on the elusive Musky though I have yet to get a positive report.
Stay fishy,
Seth Kolshinski
Read our Oregon fishing report.