SW Washington by Seth Kolshinski
Happy New Year to all! Tributaries are on the rise with recent rains in SW Washington with rain, snow, wind, and cold all in the forecast leading to a pretty crappy upcoming weekend of fishing. Kokanee continues to fish great for those braving the weather. Trout fishing has picked up with recent stocks. A record short sturgeon season after being shut down after only two days open! Creel reports have stopped until spring.
REMINDER, please verify the regulations before fishing any body of water. AND wear a life jacket.
Lewis Report
With recent rains the river has risen nearly 4,000 cfs and will continue to rise once the snow starts melting above Merwin and filling the lake. I doubt we see it start to come down until mid to late next week. Fishing has slowed from the people I talked to on Sunday 1/7/24 at the hatchery there had been only a few fish caught all day. I talked with another angler pulling his boat out of the water who said he and his son had been up past the hatchery, they had got one though he didn’t say what they caught it on. Their rods were rigged for drift fishing so that would be my best guess.
Kalama Report
The river is reportedly staying at a fishable level due to snow fall and lower freezing levels on the upper parts of the river though the lower river is still getting a little muddy. Better return of fish this week, best so far this year.
Cowlitz Report
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 27 coho adults, three coho jacks, and 10 winter-run steelhead adults over four days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released 13 coho adults, three coho jacks, and one winter-run steelhead into Lake Scanewa at Scanewa Day Use Park and they released five coho adults and one winter-run steelhead into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.
River flow below Mayfield Dam is 5,270 cubic feet per second on Monday, January 8, 2024. Water visibility is 4 feet and water temperature is 45.7 F. River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.
Washougal Report
The Washougal has been on fire as of late, Beckham Schill and Griffin Soule have been doing great in the lower river plunking. They have been plunking dark spin glows paired with millennial coon shrimp and it has been killer. The catch rates this year have been promising and it has brought tons of attention to the local spots. Beckham states there were nearly 20 people packed onto the bank near the old bowling alley plunking this last weekend, he said he saw around seven fish caught by noon when he had to leave. The hatchery has seen some of the best returns it has had in years.
Elochoman Report
No first-hand reports this week but I have heard of some good fishing here, winter storms shouldn’t be as nearly impactful here with mostly rain falling and it being five to six degrees warmer than the Portland-Vancouver area all weekend.
Columbia River
I ran by Austin Point this last weekend during the outgoing tide and didn’t run into one person, it can be a productive spot at times especially during an outgoing tide. When I get the chance to check in with an angler I will update here.
Sturgeon
The 2024 sturgeon opener went off with a bang, there was a record-breaking attendance though a slow day of fishing for most I talked to. We nearly met our quota of 675 within the first day of it being open, though that was not due to a mass success as it was more due to a sheer number of personnel. We landed around ten sturgeon with only one keeper at 45 inches, most fish were right around an inch short of the 38-inch slot limit.
Warm Water Lakes and Ponds
Battleground lake and Klineline had both been stocked with trout on 1/2/24, trout fishing has been slow but you could chalk that up to colder waters. Until spring I focus on the shallower parts of the lake anywhere from 4-15 feet deep as the trout usually hangout there, they are fairly lethargic so small baits left hovering near the bottom is best.
Merwin Lake
Merwin continues to fish well for the ones braving the cold, wind, and snow. Most fish have been in the top water column and as the temp drops on the lake with these colder temps make sure you slow down these fish won’t chase a bait moving too fast in the winter. I have seen a ton of ads for guides that have available seats from now until late may, all around $130 a seat. Hiring a guide is by far the easiest way to learn this fishery once you know you won’t forget.
Ilwaco and Long Beach
Toxin reports came back clean and we are mid dig this week, there are some good afternoon/evening tides all weekend though it will be awfully cold.
Jan. 11, Thursday, 6:28 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 12, Friday, 7:11 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 13, Saturday, 7:53 p.m.; -1.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Jan. 14, Sunday, 8:36 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 15, Monday, 9:19 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Mocrocks
Stay fishy,
Seth Kolshinski
There is A LOT more for SW Washington Members here including Ian’s monthly report for a different style and knowledge of certain SW Washington areas. And SW Washington members can find our complete Columbia River reports here.
Read this week’s Oregon fishing report.