Springers trickling into lower Columbia, steelhead still slow to nonexistent. Trout bites solid in local Lowland Lakes.
Vancouver Metro Area
A few Columbia River spring Chinook have been caught this week, mostly from Cathlamet down, but with success rates hovering near one percent fishing is still very slow. Steelhead fishing is slow to non-existent, although a few are coming to hand. Many guides and anglers have given up on winter steelhead, with fishing just about as lousy as it’s ever been for the last 20 years.
Trout are still being caught in local lowland lakes, and heavy stockings continue. Warm weather has brought panfish shallow, and walleye are biting in the Columbia River pools.
Columbia Chinook Starting To Show, Willamette Has Slowed
Columbia River Fishing Report – Although creel census shows that the Willamette has been the better spring Chinook option, the Columbia is starting to fire off and should produce improving catches over the next several weeks.
The creel check shows that anglers made 2,547 trips and caught 26 adult spring Chinook (kept) and 24 winter steelhead (released). Based on preliminary VSI information (“Visual Stock Index”, where “snow bellies” are Willamette bound fish, and dark chinned Chinook are often upper Columbia River bound), lower river spring Chinook comprised 80% of the catch. In essence, Willamette bound fish are making up the vast majority of the Columbia catch at this time.
If you’ve already done the math, anglers are catching mainstem Columbia Chinook at a rate of about 1 keeper springer per 100 angler trips. Yea, it’s a lottery, but better odds for a highly prized spring Chinook than any lottery pay-out most people would get.
Reports from one guide fishing the lower reaches of the Columbia (downstream of Aldrich Point) were fair for mid-March. The guide reported only 6 boats fishing in the area he was in and although the two of them didn’t get any bites, they saw 3 fish landed, for a 50% success rate, which certainly isn’t bad for mid-March. They spent their time on anchor with plugs on the outgoing tide and stated that the fish they saw caught were all on plugs over the course of the tide. The creel census indicates that the bulk of the spring Chinook are being caught, from both the bank and boats, downstream of the Longview Bridge.
There have now been 5 adults spring Chinook pass Bonneville Dam as of March 15th. It has begun.
The Guide’s Forecast – Tides this weekend aren’t the most conducive for successful bank fishing. We look for the strong outgoing tides, of which they are only mediocre this weekend. None-the-less, the season is underway, mainstem Columbia Chinook are starting to show and more Willamette fish should be on their way.
Make no mistake, you’re still going to see less than impressive catch rates for a blossoming flotilla of boats in pursuit of our region’s most highly prized sport fish, but spring break is starting and nothing says spring Chinook (except for blooming dogwoods) than spring break, and on these beaches, you can easily adhere to social distancing guidelines between anglers.
There are some pretty great places to fish downstream of the Longview Bridge, but it’s also a long run from Portland, when you have the Willamette River in your back yard. It may make more sense to fish this area when more springers show up, closer to the supposed closure around April 4th.
Trolled herring will likely be one of the better options for boat anglers, targeting high tide if you can in these lower river areas. Don’t expect much action just yet upstream of the mouth of the Willamette, including Davis Bar, until we get into April. Sure, there will be people trying, but I think by now, most anglers have fished here enough to know what to expect. There will certainly be some lucky anglers this week however. It’s still not a bad strategy to fish plugs on anchor, it’s certainly a lot less labor intensive and likely as productive. There are great places to anchor fish throughout the lower Columbia this time of year, hopefully you have a few of your favorite hot spots lined out that you have confidence in.
Bank anglers should have a fair-at-best crack at a spring Chinook or wild steelhead along the beaches of the lower Columbia. Spin-n-glos are standard procedure here, but at the very least, liberally apply scent to your offerings. Anglers are come to rely on coon shrimp as an added bonus to their plunked gear. That’s certainly not a bad idea.
Although water velocities won’t be as intense as they are during a stronger tide series, fish will still be migrating close to the bank in these spring flows. Cooler temperatures will inspire them to stay close to shore versus the warmer temperatures during summer time, where Chinook will seek out deeper water. Pink, orange, green and purple should all put you in the game if you’re looking for the best colors of spin-n-glos for success.
Lewis and Washougal Rivers Fishing Report—Angling pressure and success have dropped way off on the North Fork Lewis River. There are just a few anglers still trying for wild winter steelhead, but there has been no report on angler success lately. The wild run should be peaking right now, with the fish spread through the system from the deadline at the Merwin Dam down through the Golf Course. Good methods this year have been beads and jigs fished below a bobber. Pulling plugs has also been effective. River conditions are good, but most local anglers seem to be awaiting the arrival of spring Chinook.
The Washougal River has been low and clear the past week, and fishing has suffered. The peak of the run is at hand, but with the river running at less than 700 CFS, there has been little pressure and very few fish caught. Before the river dropped as low as it is anglers were getting some fish with drifted gear or bait, and a few fish were coming to hand with bobber and jigs or beads. Most of the fishing is taking place in the lower three miles of the river, with popular access points being Hathaway Park and the Washougal River Greenway.
The Guides Forecast—The Lewis River has been running at about 10 feet all week and is expected to stay just under that level all week. While there are a few wild steelhead around in the Lewis, most local anglers are waiting for the arrival of spring Chinook. For the first time in two years, anglers can fish for springers in the Lewis itself until April 30. About 2,400 adults are expected. Those fish will show first in the troll fishery at the mouth of the river, and should do so during the first couple weeks of April. After April 4, anglers trolling at the mouth will have to stay above the Lewis River fishing deadline since the Columbia will be closed.
Rain is forecast for this weekend, and that could lift the Washougal, giving anglers another shot at late run winter steelhead. If the river does lift to over 1,000 CFS, then there should be another burst of fish moving into the river. Anglers thinking about hitting the river this weekend may want to check and see if the river has indeed risen. You can check the real time river depth from the Washington Department of Ecology HERE.
If the river does come up fishermen should try drifting or bobber fishing in the lower three miles of the river. Anglers lucky enough to gain access to the upper river should do well, too.
Merwin and Yale Lakes Fishing Report—the kokanee fishing picked up this week in both lakes after slowing the week before. However, the kokes have been finicky, and some anglers are having to switch up their offerings, sometimes several times a day, to keep the bite going. Some anglers are doing well, but others are struggling.
The Guides Forecast—Rainy weather is forecast for the area this weekend, which could make angling uncomfortable and difficult, especially if the wind comes up. If the weather is decent anglers should do well, but are reminded that if the bite stops, they may need to switch up their baits and depths a bit to stay on top of the fish. The schools are still holding in the upper water column, above 20 feet, so most anglers should be flat-line trolling with dodgers or flashers, and pink or orange hootchies tipped with corn.
Local Lakes Fishing Report—Klineline Pond was stocked on March 10 with 2,560 rainbow trout at 2.0 per pound. The lake has been fishing well all winter. Battle ground and Lacamas Lake also continue to fish well for trout. On warm days Lacamas has been giving up some nice yellow perch.
Longview Area
Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing Report—Steelhead angling in the Cowlitz River is slow, according to Dave Mallahan of Dave’s Guide Service (360-201-9313), who reports that over 100 boats fished the river below Blue Creek last weekend. Mallahan has been getting a few fish each day of fishing, but he says the catch is lower than it should be, and many anglers are going home empty handed. Numbers back to the hatchery are just okay, with Tacoma Power employees recovering 174 winter-run steelhead adults during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator last week. Mallahan has taken his fish in the first few miles below Blue Creek by bobber-dogging beads or salmon eggs. Both offerings are getting bit.
During the last creel surveys, above the I-5 Bridge 54 bank rods kept 10 steelhead, while 90 boats/325 rods kept 110 steelhead and released three. Below the I-5 Bridge 76 bank rods kept four steelhead and released one.
The Kalama River has been one of the few tributaries to offer decent steelheading this season, and anglers continue to find some biters through the entire river, according to John Thompson of Sportsman’s Warehouse in Vancouver, (360) 604-8000. Fishing can be described as decent, but not really good. He reports that anglers are getting the fish on just about every steelhead method out there, including bobber and beads, pulling plugs, fishing bait, and throwing hardware. Boat anglers continue to do well from the red barn down to the Modrow Bridge, although fish are being caught below that stretch, too. Bank anglers are finding fish from the upper river canyon down to the mouth.
Longview Area
Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers Fishing Report—Steelhead angling in the Cowlitz River is slow, according to Dave Mallahan of Dave’s Guide Service (360-201-9313), who reports that over 100 boats fished the river below Blue Creek last weekend. Mallahan has been getting a few fish each day of fishing, but he says the catch is lower than it should be, and many anglers are going home empty handed. Numbers back to the hatchery are just okay, with Tacoma Power employees recovering 174 winter-run steelhead adults during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator last week. Mallahan has taken his fish in the first few miles below Blue Creek by bobber-dogging beads or salmon eggs. Both offerings are getting bit.
During the last creel surveys, above the I-5 Bridge 54 bank rods kept 10 steelhead, while 90 boats/325 rods kept 110 steelhead and released three. Below the I-5 Bridge 76 bank rods kept four steelhead and released one.
The Kalama River has been one of the few tributaries to offer decent steelheading this season, and anglers continue to find some biters through the entire river, according to John Thompson of Sportsman’s Warehouse in Vancouver, (360) 604-8000. Fishing can be described as decent, but not really good. He reports that anglers are getting the fish on just about every steelhead method out there, including bobber and beads, pulling plugs, fishing bait, and throwing hardware. Boat anglers continue to do well from the red barn down to the Modrow Bridge, although fish are being caught below that stretch, too. Bank anglers are finding fish from the upper river canyon down to the mouth.
The Guides Forecast– River flows at Mayfield Dam were approximately 6,540 cubic feet per second on Monday. Water visibility is 9 feet and the water temperature is 42.3 F. The upper Cowlitz is expected to remain at about the same level through the weekend. Anglers will find good conditions within the river, but it will be running a little low. Mallahan expects the numbers of steelhead to continue to climb for another two weeks before reaching the peak of the run. He is hopeful that the forecasted rains will pull more steelhead into the upper river.
He will continue to bobber-dog bait and beads within the first few miles below Blue Creek, following the pattern he has used all season for success. While he has been getting fish every day out, many other anglers are struggling to get bit, and though the river will see more competition as the run peaks, he does expect the fishing to improve. Anglers in the upper river should expect decent fishing this weekend, but they will also find plenty of competition.
The lower Cowlitz River will probably lift a little as a result of the forecast rains coming our way, but it is not expected to raise the river enough to trash the conditions. Anglers should be able to intercept some of the steelhead that will be pushing through using stationary methods, such as plunking or anchoring, and bobber-dogging may find a few fish, too. Lower river anglers may find a few less fish, but there should be less competition, too.
You can check the full Tacoma Power Cowlitz River Report HERE. You can check river flows and lake levels, including for Mayfield and Riffe Lakes, HERE.
Anglers are reminded that there will be no spring Chinook retention allowed in the Cowlitz this spring. However, the river’s summer steelhead will be up for grabs. Those fish should start to arrive in May, but whether they show up in good numbers is unknown.
The Kalama River should get a lift from the coming rain, and that should bring fresh steelhead into the system. Weekend anglers should find biters through most sections of the river, with the lower river favoring boat anglers, and the upper river giving bank fishers a good chance at success. All of the floats in the lower river should be good, and anglers should be able to draw bites with bobber presentations, by pulling plugs, or fishing bait. In the canyon anglers should draw strikes by drifting, fishing beads or jigs, and by throwing hardware.
Local Rivers Fishing Report—Kress Lake has been good for steelhead and trout, as has Horseshoe Lake. Some very nice coho are reputedly coming to hand in Riffe Lake, which looks to produce excellent fishing again this year. Some very nice-sized smallmouth bass are beginning to show up in pre-spawn patterns in Riffe, too. Crappie and some largemouth bass are biting in Silver lake.
Columbia River Gorge
Drano Lake, Wind river, Klickitat River
Angling is open on the Wind River and Drano Lake for spring Chinook as of March 16. The Klickitat will open for spring Chinook April 1. However, fishing rarely picks up until mid-April in all three fisheries. If you try this weekend, you will be fishing for the two spring Chinook adults that have passed over Bonneville Dam to date this year. The Klickitat is expecting a return of 1,500 adults, the Wind River is looking at a return of 1,200 adults, and Drano should see about 3,900. Anglers are reminded that fishing in Drano is slated to close after May 5.
Local Lakes Fishing Report—Icehouse Lake, located at the Washington end of the Bridge of the Gods, was stocked just days ago with rainbow trout at about 2.0 per pound, which should give the fishing a boost. Most anglers fish bait in the small lake, but other methods will work, too.