Last Chance at Mainstem Chinook; Sturgeon Retention Opens Above Wauna
Willamette Valley/Metro – With the last of the 3-day openers for Chinook starting Friday, anglers will be perplexed as to what their next moves are. The fishing should be good however, with wobbler plunkers taking fish, but trollers working flashers and spinners the likely winners from Bonneville Dam to Warrior Rock. The reservoirs above Bonneville Dam will remain open through September 8th.
Although not historically productive, the above Wauna Powerlines catch and keep sturgeon fishery opens up on Saturday. Fishery managers set two days of retention fishing for white sturgeon on Saturday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 19 in the Columbia River upstream of the Wauna Powerlines (river mile 40 near the west end of Puget Island).
It’s still early on the Clackamas for catchable numbers of coho, but numbers should be increasing soon. Spinner casters should start to appear at the mouth and just upstream of the Highway 99 Bridge.
Pro guide Jeff Stoeger (503-704-7920) of O2BFISHN reports, I hope that everyone is doing well. I would like to give you some helpful info on a great reel repair guy. Mike Wardin used to work Ollie Damon, Shimono and Daiwa. I’ve had Mike work on a few reels and the work was fast and great. So, if you need any reels repaired Mike will work on all brands of reels and he does fantastic work. His contact info is 360-606-4335 which is a Washington number, but he does repairs in Portland. Call to make appointment to drop off reels and you won’t be disappointed. Tell Mike that you got his info from the guides forecast.
This weeks report is short and sweet. There has been reports that a few coho have been caught in the lower sandy and that there are still some very nice late springers still being caught. The upper river has both chinook and summer steelhead available from Cedar creek to Oxbow. There will be lots of rafters and swimmers on the river over the next few days with temp hitting the upper 90’s. The river was running glacial green and will turn glacial brown with the temps taking a high jump over the next few days. The best time to fish is early morning and casting spinner and spinners with hoochies.
North Coast Fishing Report – Chinook are starting to show in better numbers in the Tillamook district. Although seaweed has been hampering opportunity in the bay, the ocean has been a strong option in recent days. There has been some good catches just off of the tips of the jetty out of Barview. The upper bay is producing some early returning Trask and Tillamook River fish too.
The Nehalem has produced a few hatchery coho and fall Chinook as well, but anglers here are also being hampered by seaweed, which is usually not the case. Certainly the stronger tide series has something to do with it.
The Nestucca, Salmon, Siletz and Alsea all have early Chinook showing, but the persistent NW winds, cooler ocean water and rough seas have stirred seaweed up, making for challenging fishing conditions. Even though these systems are still above 3 weeks away from peak season fishing, catchable numbers are present for the motivated.
Ocean and bay crabbing has only been fair, when September is typically a productive month.
Lower Columbia River anglers got some additional opportunity for Chinook this weekend, check HERE for all the details in the ODF&W press release. The coho bag limit expands to two also although the hatchery coho have yet to make a strong showing in the lower Columbia. That’s likely change in the next 10 days however. Crabbing is good on the lower Columbia.
Albacore tuna remain far offshore and halibut effort has been minimal with the ocean weather so rough here lately. Some nearshore halibut have been taken by salmon trollers in recent days out of Garibaldi however.
Central and Eastern Oregon Fishing Reports – from ODF&W (Tim is out this week)
With the onset of warm weather (and more on the way), anglers should target larger, deeper and higher elevation waterbodies such as Pine Hollow, Clear Lake, Badger Lake, Lost Lake, and Laurance Lake – which all should have good fishing for most of the summer.
Trout anglers also should adjust their tactics by fishing closer to the surface early in the morning and late in the evening, deeper in the water column when the sun is high in the middle of the day. In areas where shallow areas will have abundant vegetation making fishing difficult, anglers can still catch fish by fishing their lure or bait just above the vegetation.
Poor snowpack and drought for the last several years has resulted in poor water quantity and quality in many parts of the upper Deschutes. Wickiup Reservoir is at 17 percent of capacity and will be at zero storage well before the end of irrigation season. Several lakes and reservoirs including Lake Billy Chinook, Crane Prairie, Big Lava and Odell have algae blooms.
Low water levels in rivers and streams make fish more susceptible to effect of high water temperatures. At these times, consider fishing in the cooler times of the day to minimize impacts to released fish, and avoid fishing when water temperatures exceed 70 degrees.
For trout, September, can be a tough month on the Deschutes. On hot sunny days, look for trout in deeper, well-aerated water, and in any spots of shade along the bank. All of the famous bug hatches are over, but caddis patterns and large stonefly nymphs can catch fish. Creel reports in July indicated that trout fishing continued to be good.
Fishing is closed from July 15-Sept. 15 from Moody Rapids downstream to the mouth of Deschutes. This area starts at the Columbia River confluence and extends upstream to Moody Rapids. This closure area is only about 0.5 miles of the Deschutes River. The remainder of the 99.5 miles of the lower Deschutes River remains under the permanent rules found in the Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. Find more information in the Central Zone regulation update section right before this report.
Steelhead fishing has been improving in the lower Deschutes from Sherars Falls downstream to Moody Rapids. Fishing has been slow since mid-August, but cooler nights and better fish passage at The Dalles Dam should help improve fishing. Peak steelhead fishing from Moody Rapids upstream to Sherars Falls will be in September. Peak passage of steelhead at Sherars Falls generally occurs about the third and fourth week of September.
In early October steelhead should be moving into the Maupin Area. By November, fish are spread throughout the basin from the mouth upstream to Pelton Dam.
Fall Chinook anglers in the Sherars Falls area should expect fishing to get better in the next two weeks. Peak fishing should be the last week of September to the first week of October. Most chinook are caught below Sherars Falls in the bait section by drifting or plunking techniques.
The Pine Hollow Reservoir has been stocked and should offer reasonable trout fishing through the summer months. Algae blooms are likely effecting shallow water.
Anglers are most successful at Pine Hollow using a boat. If you are fishing out of a boat, trolling small spinners or free drifting bait will work.
Bank anglers can also be successful near the boat ramp and on the dam.
Fishing for trout and whitefish on the Grande Ronde River will begin to improve as water temperatures decrease. Steelhead season opened on Sept. 1 but fish aren’t generally available until later in the month. Steelhead season opened with a reduced bag limit of 2 fish per day.
Fishing for whitefish in the upper reaches of the Imnaha can be good during the summer as water temperatures will remain cool. Trout fishing will begin to improve in as water temperatures decrease.
Fall Chinook will be very visible in the lower reaches through November. It is not legal to fish for fall Chinook in the Imnaha River and anglers should avoid these fish and allow them to spawn. Remember, if you catch a bull trout it must be released unharmed.
Steelhead season opens on Sept. 1 but fish aren’t generally available until later in the month. Steelhead season will open with a reduced bag limit of 2 fish per day.
The Wallowa River will continue to be good for trout and whitefish. The best time to fish will be in the late evenings in runs that are shaded by the canyon walls. Grasshopper patterns can be effective into September, as well as caddis and mayflies if trout are being picky.
Steelhead season opened on Sept. 1 but fish aren’t generally available until later in the fall/early winter. Steelhead season will opened with a reduced bag limit of 2 fish per day.
Most streams and rivers in the Klamath Basin are near record low flows. Flows in most rivers and streams are either too low or too hot for effective fishing. Try the higher elevations streams with brook trout like Upper Sycan, Upper Williamson, Upper NF and SF Sprague and Long Creek. North Fork Sprague is one of those rivers that fishes best at base flow of around 35 cfs. Currently, the river is fishing very well for native redband trout, brown trout and brook trout. Fly-fishing is most productive in this small river.
It is grasshopper season and in some areas of Klamath County they are abundant. Fly-fishing can be excellent using hopper patterns. Look to the Wood River, Long Creek, Upper Williamson, and both forks of the Sprague River.
Streams and rivers in Lake County are fairly low for this time of year resulting in easier fishing access. Deep Creek and the Chewaucan River should be great fishing as well as the tributaries that feed them. This is a great time to fish with flies or small lures and get out camping. Please be mindful of the warmer water and remember to use good catch-and-release techniques for these native redband trout.
Fly-fishing with hopper patterns on the Wood River.
The Upper Sycan River is excellent for brook trout.
Lake of the Woods will be stocked this week with trophy rainbow trout with many exceeding 20 inches. Warm water temperatures will push these fish into deeper water offshore. Fishing will be fair for many of the warmwater species in the lake. Fishing for brown bullhead is probably your best bet. Fishing for largemouth bass along the shoreline docks, large wood and lily pads can be productive. The lake is dominated by stunted yellow perch. Very small bait and hooks will catch these fish.
Due to the warm water along the shoreline most trout will move to colder and deeper water. If you have a boat you’ll find most trout holding at 15 feet. Getting your lure down to the trout is key to catching them. Try trolling larger spoons for these trout.
You can also visit their website to observe current conditions at the lake. Click on the left side video link for a live video of current conditions on the lake at the Lodge
Miller Lake should be excellent for trophy hatchery rainbow trout. The lake was stocked last week and this week. There is ample room to fish from shore near the swimming beach or near the dock. Best fishing is from a boat trolling small spoons or flies for rainbow trout.
Brown trout are very abundant in the lake but catching them is quite challenging. Most brown trout will be holding near the thermocline at 15 feet. They feed almost exclusively on kokanee or stocked rainbow trout. Small brown trout can be found feeding on the hatches in the flats near the outlet of the lake. Another good location is the mouth of Evening Creek.
SW Oregon – From ODF&W (Tim is out this week)
Trout fishing in lakes and ponds has slowed due to the hotter days and warmer water conditions. However, there’s still good trout fishing for those willing to adjust their tactics. Fish higher lakes and early or late in the day.
Water temperatures for many of the area lakes in the Coos, Coquille, Tenmile District are in the lower 70s. Largemouth bass and bluegills are in their summer patterns, which means fishing will be best in the mornings and late evenings.
The fly-only season is in effect from Fishers Ferry to Cole Rivers Hatchery. Anglers have been picking up summer Steelhead. Spin-casters can still employ a very effective set-up called the “bug and bubble.” Excess summer steelhead were also recycled back in the river last week around the Denman Wildlife Area.
The Rogue River and tributaries above Lost Creek Reservoir should be a good place to target trout throughout the summer. Trout are stocked weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This week no trout were stocked in the Minnehaha area due to lower water flows. Target calmer pools and pocket water for resting trout. Stocking sites are from Woodruff Bridge all the way upstream to Minnehaha Creek. Trout limits here are 5 trout per day, only 1 over 20 inches, and bait is allowed.
Oceans and Beaches
Bottomfishing is restricted to inside the 40-fathom regulatory line until Sept. 1. Fishing for rockfish and lingcod has been spotty recently when anglers can get out on the ocean. The daily bag limit for marine fish was recently increased to 7. But anglers must release all cabezon, copper, quillback and China rockfish when fishing from a boat.
Anglers are also allowed 2 lingcod per day.
Anglers may also choose to fish the offshore longleader fishery outside of the 40-fathom regulatory line, which is open year-round. The longleader fishery has a daily bag limit of 10 fish made of yellowtail, widow, canary, blue, deacon, redstripe, greenstripe, silvergray, chillipepper, and bocaccio rockfish. No other groundfish are allowed and offshore longleader fishing trips cannot be combined with traditional bottomfish, flatfish or halibut trips. Find information about a longleader setup here.
Surfperch anglers are having some success on the beaches around Bandon using sand shrimp or Berkley Gulp sand worms.
The ocean Non-Selective Coho season starts on September 4-5 from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain. The Non-Selective Coho Season will open on each Fri -Sat starting on Sept. 4 through Sept. 30 or attaining the 4,650 non-marked selective coho quota. Ocean Chinook salmon fishing is open from Cape Falcon to Humbug Mountain through Oct 31 and from Humbug Mountain to the OR/CA Border through August 7.
The Nearshore Halibut season for the Central Coast Subarea is open 7 days a week, inside the 40-fathom line, through the earlier of the quota of 32,591 pounds or Oct. 31. As of Aug. 23, there is 34 percent of the quota remaining.
The Summer All-Depth Halibut season for the Central Coast Subarea starts on Aug. 6-8 and continues every Thursday – Saturday until Oct. 31 or the quota is caught. As of Aug 22, there is 92 percent of the quota remaining.
The Southern Oregon Subarea for halibut is open 7 days a week through the earlier of the quota of 8,000 pounds or Oct. 31. As of Aug. 23, there is 29 percent of the quota remaining.
Agate Lake has a good population of crappie and yellow perch, as well as brown bullhead. Expect poor water clarity.
Applegate Reservoir is 23 percent full with an elevation of 1,923.4 ft. Reservoir operations, elevations and boat ramp levels can be viewed by hovering over icons on the US Army Corps Rogue Basin Teacup webpage.
The USFS has closed Hart-tish boat ramp for the season due to low water. Copper becomes unusable around 1920 feet elevation, so the best bet is French Gulch for the rest of the year.
Good tactics for trout at Applegate lake include trolling a wedding ring lure or Little Cleo. All visitors should practice leave no trace tactics and pack out their own trash if facilities are closed.
Nearby is Squaw Lakes. This quaint, but popular weekend destination is a non-motorized boating waterway. It has a large population of illegally introduced yellow perch. Like many local lakes where these have been illegally introduced, perch tend to overpopulate and stunt themselves. Anglers can easily catch these fish from shore and are encouraged to harvest as many as possible
Ben Irving Reservoir – Daytime temps are forecasted to be high. The morning should be the best time. The lake was recently stocked with trophy trout, which means the trout bite should be on.
With some seriously warm days in the forecast, anglers should focus on the early morning if they want a chance to catch fish in Cooper. Some anglers find the trout and smolts hang out in the small arms of the reservoir, and anglers should find more after the lake was stocked with trophy trout.
Beginning in 2016, Cooper has been stocked with coho and Chinook salmon juveniles (20,000 coho in 2019). These are often mistaken for kokanee. Anglers may retain up to 5 salmon juveniles in the reservoir as part of their daily trout bag limit. Please remember to release salmon and trout less than 8 inches.
Anglers have been catching a few rockfish in the lower Coos Bay estuary fishing along the jetty and submerged rock structures. Smaller jigs with a twister tail or 1-ounce jigging spoons have been working to catch rockfish and greenling. The daily bag limit for marine fish was recently increased to 7, which for boat anglers cannot include any copper, quillback or China rockfish.
Bank anglers can still retain one copper, quillback or China rockfish as part of their daily bag limit. Anglers are also allowed 2 lingcod per day. The harvest of 1 cabezon per day as part of your general marine fish daily limit opened on July 1.
Temporary wild fall Chinook regulations are in effect starting Aug. 1 for salmon anglers fishing in Coos Bay. Anglers cannot harvest no more than one (1) adult wild Chinook salmon daily / five (5) for the period of Aug 1 – Dec 31 from all waters of Coos River basin, Floras Creek/New River, and Sixes River. See specific rules for Floras/New River and Sixes.
Salmon anglers are having some success catching Chinook salmon from the Chip Pile/North Bend Airport upstream into the Coos River. Fishing has been the best around the high slack tides.
Trout fishing in streams and rivers is open through Oct. 31. Anglers may use bait in streams and rivers above tidewater starting Sept. 1
Emigrant has been dropping 8 feet per week. All boat ramps are currently unusable. There is very little fishing pressure here. Now would be an exceptional time to camp, if you can handle the daytime heat. For more information on park facilities closures visit the Jackson County Parks website. The water park is closed for the season.
Water surface temperatures will be very warm this week and next with an unusual September heat wave hitting the Rogue Valley. It’s best to fish early if you can get on the water, or are willing to hike toward the dam or along the Emigrant arm. Try fishing Texas-rigged plastics, instead of nightcrawlers, when targeting bass to reduce the chance that your catch deeply swallows a hook.
The reservoir is currently 13 percent full, lower than most staff have ever seen.
Fish Lake Marina and store is open, and the lake is 36 percent full. The reservoir has been dropping pretty significantly in the last few weeks, but clarity seems to be ok according to a recent report, with no report of a noticeable algae bloom. The little turbidity is likely due to the dropping water levels.
This facility has been very busy on weekends. Get here early, or if you’re fishing, try to get here during the week.
The boat ramp at the Resort marina is usable for small trailered boats like driftboats, but the USFS ramp is no longer usable (photo attached). For Labor Day weekend the resort will open at 9 a.m. Friday-Sunday.
More information on National Forest Developed recreation sites and campground closures for the Rogue Siskiyou Forest please visit here.
There is a 10 mile/hour speed limit on Fish Lake, which does help provide a tranquil experience while you enjoy views of Mount Mcloughlin.
Tiger trout, Chinook salmon, brook trout, and larger rainbow trout are available. Remember that tiger trout must be immediately released unharmed. Anglers are encouraged to report their catch of tiger trout to fish district staff at 541-826-8774 ext 234 or 226.
Galesville Reservoir continues to drop, but the bass should still be biting in the morning.
The current info from Douglas County Parks is the parks are open. Call 541-837-3302 for information on camping and boat launching conditions. Check out the Lake Level Gage for more information.
In Galesville Reservoir, all landlocked salmon are considered trout and are part of the five-per-day trout limit, with only one trout over 20 inches long allowed for harvest
The Joseph Stewart State Park day use, boat ramp and marina are currently open. Camping reservations can be made up to 2 weeks ahead of time. For more information, please visit the Oregon State Parks website. Takelma boat ramp and facilities are also currently open. Expect weekend traffic here.
Lost creek has some exceptional bass fishing during July through August. Consider targeting catfish cove, or some of the points off the southwestern portion of the lake.
Trout will not be stocked until mid-September, but there are plenty of trout still in Lost Creek Lake. Trolling up the Lost Creek Arm, near the Dam, or above Highway 62 are good bets. Trout will be deep as surface temperatures are still warm.
Trout anglers may try trolling a wedding ring and worm combination behind an oval egg sinker in the Lost Creek Arm, or up under Hwy 62 where the mainstem meets the lake. As the water warms up through the summer, the trout will be deeper.
Some of the trout have external parasites called copepods. Fish parasites generally do not pose a threat to humans when fish are cooked, and copepods can be scraped off prior to cooking. Anglers are encouraged to keep fish that have copepods while staying within the daily limit, since release simply allows the parasite to expand to other hosts.
Lost Creek Reservoir is 47 percent full and 1,817feet elevation, and 75 degree surface temperature. Water visibility is clear. Anglers can get the latest surface temperatures by calling the US Army Corps Lost Creek Lake and Applegate Reservoir projects information line at 1-800-472-2434.
ODFW monitoring in the lower Rogue River has shown Chinook movement the last two weeks. These fish should be starting to show in the Galice through Grants Pass area. Chinook fishing is open from Fishers Ferry downstream to Hog Creek through the month of September. Upstream of Fishers Ferry, all Chinook fishing is closed for the entire river.
As of Sept. 1, the fly-only season is also in effect upstream of Fishers Ferry. No bait or added weights or attachments can be on your line. Spin-casters can employ a bubble or similar floating device, and a fly; this can be a very effective set-up when fished with a good presentation. There are many BLM public access points to bank fish from Hog Creek to Graves Creek. This is often referred to the “Galice area.” You will have plenty of rafting traffic in this section of water this time of year.
Recent reports indicate that half-pounder steelhead are showing in the Robertson Bridge area all the way down to Galice and Graves Creek. These can be very fun to fish with spinners or early morning fly swinging. They are a great beginner fishery, readily hitting small spinners tipped with a nightcrawler. Wild half-pounders may not be kept.
Locally-owned and operated tackle stores in Grants Pass have excellent gear and very fresh bait that is specific to the Rogue and to your particular technique. Go check them out and offer them support during this time.
It is illegal to snag and keep a snagged fish, whether it’s wild or hatchery! Report violations to Oregon State Police by calling *OSP.
All Chinook fishing is closed from Fishers Ferry upstream to Cole Rivers Hatchery. As of Sept. 1, the fly-only season is also in effect upstream of Fishers Ferry. No bait or added weights or attachments can be on your line. Spin-casters can employ a bubble or similar floating device, and a fly; this can be a very effective set-up when fished with a good presentation.
Trout anglers are especially encouraged to harvest adipose-fin clipped trout in the upper reach of river. Summer steelhead should be picking up throughout the upper Rogue. Black and black/purple flies have been the ticket for some local fly anglers. Copper johns and egg imitations will begin getting hot as fish start keying into spawning salmon. Anglers should be very aware of spawning spring Chinook and their gravel nests called redds. Please do your best to not disturb these fish and do not walk on gravel nests.
For week of Aug. 26, 56 new summer steelhead entered the hatchery, bringing the total to 761 fish for the year, down a bit from past years. 370 summer steehead were recycled back downstream near the Denman Wildlife area and Touvelle State Park. Some of these fish are tagged with colored and numbered tags in their backs. Anglers should call 541-826-8774 ext. 226 if they catch these fish.
If you plan on releasing the fish, leave the tag in it, but please try and get a 4 digit number on the tag (please don’t report the phone number!!). Participants will be entered into a raffle for donated prizes including gift cards to a local sporting goods store and even a box of hand tied flies.
There were 54 new spring Chinook last week, bringing the total to 1,593 fish for the year. The collection pond is typically sorted on Wednesdays, and new numbers are typically available to the public by Thursday or Friday.
A few anglers are picking up some salmon on the Smith River. Traditionally this a troll fishery, but there are some spots to throw spinners from the bank and some anglers use a bobber and egg setup. Some areas in the Smith are open for retention of trout so check the regulations before going out. Smallmouth fishing should be good below the falls.
The Smith sees only light pressure for most of the season and can provide a great experience for anglers looking to get away from the crowds.
Umpqua Hike-In Lakes – Even the high lakes will be warm this weekend, but they might be better than the valley waters. When the water warms, fishing usually slows at the hike-in lakes.
Lakes typically accessible from hiking trails and that were stocked in the last couple years are: Calamut, Connie, Bullpup, Fuller, Cliff, Buckeye, Maidu, Pitt, Wolfe and Skookum lakes.
Clearwater Forebay Two can be a great place to fish as well with brook trout and rainbow available.
Red Top Pond was recently stocked with trophy trout and offers excellent bank fishing opportunities. There are also bass and other warmwater fish available.
SW Washington – Terry Otto has put together another smashing report for SW Washington. What you will read below is an abbreviated version of what Terry’s “FULL VERSION” report will look like in the months ahead. Sign Up for Terry’s PAID version that started last week. With this level of detail, you won’t want to miss a single week! It’s JUST $0.32 cents per week! Here’s Terry’s summary for this week. SUBSCRIBE to the full SW Washington version HERE!
Anglers are still being asked to follow state guidelines and health advice for the COVID-19 pandemic by fishing in their local communities, traveling only with family or other members of their immediate household, and practicing physical distancing by keeping six feet apart.
For updates on the pandemic, check the WDFW Covid-19 webpage HERE.
Vancouver Metro Area
Chinook catches in the Columbia are picking up, and a few coho are beginning to show as well, according to John Thompson of the Sportsmen’s Warehouse in Vancouver, (360) 604-8000. The fish have been moving upriver, improving the fishing in the Vancouver area and up by Bonneville Dam. Columbia River tributaries are seeing their first fall salmon, too, although catches in some have been dominated by early-showing jacks.
High country lakes continue to shine for trout, and with cooler night temps some of the lowland lakes are picking up. Warm water fishing is very good right now, and will remain so for at least the next month. Many warm water species will begin to feed hard to prepare for winter, and anglers that take advantage of that may be greatly rewarded for their efforts.
Lewis and Washougal Rivers Fishing Report
Thompson of has been hearing reports of a few early fall salmon showing up in the Lewis River. Anglers have been taking the fish on bobber and bait, but the catch has been skewed toward jacks, which is typical of the early runs in the river. For instance, the latest WDFW creel survey found 17 bank anglers had released seven Chinook jacks. Five boats/seven rods kept six coho jacks.
The Washougal River is still fishing slow, with Thompson reporting that one gentleman took only one fish during a long day of fishing.
Merwin, Yale, and swift Reservoir Fishing Report
Both Merwin and Yale continue to fish well for kokanee, with the schools still concentrating at the 40 to 60-foot depth. Trolling with downriggers has been the best way to reach the fish. Anglers are getting the fish to take a variety of offerings. Good options include Brad’s Super Baits, Wedding Rings, and Wiggle Hootchies.
Fishers are also finding plenty of good-sized rainbows in Merwin, especially down near the dam and the park. Trolling has also been the ticket to take these big trout. Lake trolls and cowbells will pull the fish closer for a look.
Swift Reservoir is giving up good numbers of nice rainbows to anglers that are trolling the main lake channel.
Local Lakes fishing report
Lacamas Lake has been giving up some very nice sized yellow perch from the bank and a few largemouth bass are falling to anglers fishing the lily pads along the east end of the lake.
Longview Area
Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing report
The summer steelhead run has peaked and the numbers are beginning to drop, while a few early salmon have entered the lower river. The fishing pressure has diminished as well, as anglers shift to fishing for fall Chinook in the mainstem Columbia. Steelhead action is still best up in the Blue Creek reach, and with the river being at summer-time flows the schools have concentrated into a few holes.
Cutthroats and early fall salmon are beginning to show up in the catch. The latest creels found 17 bank rods above the I-5 Bridge kept one steelhead, one cutthroat and released one cutthroat. Ten boats/29 anglers kept 16 steelhead, seven cutthroats, and released one Chinook. Fishing is improving in the lower river, where five boats/15 rods kept one coho jack and released one coho jack, two steelhead, and two cuts.
Fishing is improving in the Kalama, with Thompson reporting that anglers in the lower river, below the WDFW weir, are beginning to pick up a few early salmon. The best bites have come on bobber and eggs, or spinners.
Local Lakes Fishing Report
Mayfield Lake has been stocked well recently, and is fishing very good for rainbow trout. Mineral Lake is giving up good numbers of brown trout. Kress Lake and Swofford Pond are fishing well for catfish. Riffe Lake is still producing good numbers of coho, while the smallmouth bass are running a little larger than usual.
Columbia River Gorge
Drano Lake and Wind River Fishing Report
Chinook counts at Bonneville Dam are improving, and more fall Chinook are showing up in the catches. However, the cool weather of this last week dropped temperatures in the Columbia to about 68.5 degrees. Those cooler temps allow more salmon to keep on moving up the river, and fewer fish pull into these cold-water fisheries. Also, anglers continue to catch more steelhead that can’t be kept than the Chinook, which can be retained. The last creel had 40 anglers at Drano keeping 7 Chinook while releasing 34 steelhead.
The Wind River has fished a little slower, although a few Chinook are being taken by anglers that are trolling for them. Many are using Pro-trolls with Super Baits
Klickitat River Fishing Report
Anglers were getting a few fall Chinook in the lower river this last week, as cooler temps allowed the river to clear out a little bit. Both the WDFW and Carl Coolidge of the of the Klickitat Canyon Market, 509-369-4400, report that the fish bit decently during the recent spell of fishable water and weather.
Local lakes Fishing report
Goose Lake has been stocked well with larger than normal cutthroat recently and is fishing very well. The lake gets crowded on weekends, but even then the early bite has been strong. As the night temps cool down the fishing should improve even more. Anglers are taking largemouth bass, bluegill, and pumpkinseed at Rowland Lake and South Rowland Lake.
If you like what you see, send it to your friends in SW Washington! You can email us at bob@theguidesforecast.com or Terry at orotto@wavecable.com. Your SW Washington fishermen can sign up for our FREE reports HERE or become a paid member to get even more quality fishing information HERE.