SW Washington fishing report
Shad run slowing over Bonneville. Cowlitz, Kalama best tribs for steelhead, Chinook. Columbia Gorge walleye bite continues hot. High country trout biting, panfish good in local lakes.
Best weekend bets
- Hike-in trout lakes offer good fishing, solitude
- Cowlitz/Kalama salmon/steelhead fair, other tribs slow
- Columbia River walleye bite very good
- Shad run: over 2.7 million cross Bonneville Dam
- Swift Reservoir, power canal trout good
- Goose Lake trout bite very good
- Bass and panfish biting in lowland lakes
Columbia River
Walleye
The good folks at the Gorge Outfitters Supply in Rufus are still reporting a good walleye bite. It does not seem to be slowing at all. There have been lots of eating size walleye, and a few larger fish in the catch. The schools reportedly continue to hold from 12 to 30 feet over gravel or rocky reefs. The best bite is still coming on the worm harnesses, which is the most effective method for summer walleyes.
Shad
The run is petering out, and daily counts continue to drop. As of Tuesday, July 14, 2,778,896 shad have crossed over Bonneville Dam. The run may not top 3 million this year. A few fish are still being caught, with most falling for shad darts, small spoons, or jigs.
Salmon/steelhead
Steelhead is still open, but sockeye and Chinook are closed. 51,408 summer Chinook have crossed over Bonneville as of Tuesday, and that beats the forecast by quite a bit. But still no word on whether anglers will be allowed any retention days. 60 salmonid boats and 174 Washington bank rods were tallied on the flight count Saturday, July 11. Steelhead are slow but improving in the lower Columbia, with the best catches having come in the Cathlamet area.
Cowlitz River
River flows below Mayfield Dam were 2,300 cubic feet per second on Monday, July 13, 2026. Water visibility is 12 feet and water temperature is 54.5 (F).
Fishing guide Dave Mallahan of Fishing with Dave’s Guide Service, (360-201-9313) said the bite has been fairly good, but the fish are hot, and tough to land. He is getting them by bobber-dogging, which is what most boat anglers are doing. Catches have been best in the first few miles below Blue Creek. At the business end, he said the fish are taking salmon eggs, beads, and coon shrimp. Bank anglers at the mouth of the creek usually employ bobber methods, although some are drifting and spinners will also take the fish.
Cowlitz River gauges
You can check the river gauge at Kelso here. You can check the river gauge at Castle rock here. You can check the river gauge at the Mayfield Dam here.
Lewis River
The Lewis River is running at about 10 feet at the gauge at Woodland. It is expected to drop over the week to about 9 feet. Steelhead are now showing in good numbers, and the pressure has increased quite a bit. In the latest state creel, 30 bank anglers kept two steelhead. 16 boats/32 rods kept six steelhead. Fishing guide Trevor Torppa, owner of Chrome City Guide Service, reports that his guides have just started targeting the river, and the steelheading is improving. Coon shrimp has been a good bait, but some fish are being taken with hardware.
Merwin Reservoir
Kokanee fishing is good, and the kokes continue to grow well. The sunny weather this weekend and into next week should push them deeper. Your electronics will be critical to locate the right depth to target. Be ready to deploy down-riggers or divers to reach the schools. The fish are taking trolled hoochies or kokanee spinners tipped with kokanee corn and fished behind dodgers. Be ready to adapt as the schools move deeper mid-day.
Kalama River
Steelheading on the Kalama River has been rated as good by Fishing guide Trevor Torppa, of Chrome City Guide Service has been guiding up in Alaska, his guides have been floating the Kalama River, and he reports that although the river is low, there are summer steelhead spread through the length of the river. The best success early in the day is in the river below the Modrow Bridge, where Torppa said the freshest fish in the system can be found. Later in the day they often float the river higher up. The best bite has come on coon shrimp, but spinners often work in the fast water.
Trout Stocking
Mineral Lake was stocked with 3,500 brown trout at 2.5 per pound on July 9.
Mayfield Reservoir was stocked on July 8 with 3,120 rainbows at 1.56 per pound. It was also stocked on July 9, with 2,500 catchable rainbows at 2.5 per pound.
You can check the WDFW trout stocking reports here