Washington River Reports
Washington River Reports 07/24/2008
Sturgeon fishing reopens in the lower Columbia today through Saturday below the Wauna power lines downstream to Buoy 10 and all adjacent tributaries. Fishing for sturgeon also will be allowed July 26-27 in the same section of the river.
Steelhead fishing has been very good in the lower Columbia, especially in the Gorge where boat anglers averaged 2.5 steelhead per boat last week. Fishing also has been good in the Cowlitz, very good in the Lewis and fair to good in the Kalama and King County's Green River.
On the Olympic Peninsula, the Sol Duc has been producing some sockeye and coho. Sturgeon fishing was good last week below Wauna power lines and is expected to be just as good during this week's reopener.
The pikeminnow reward fishery continues to be lucrative for participating anglers. Saltwater fishing has been good in coastal waters and getting progressively better in the Tacoma area and Hood Canal. Lowland lakes are producing some trout. Pan fish have been producing most of the action.
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Smelt Reports for 2007/2008
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Fly Fishing 07/24/2008
The surprise of the week is Black River. Anglers fishing from a canoe reported catching three large rainbows using conehead muddler minnows. Not many reports come in from this river so it's good to hear it is fishing well, said Tom Bolender of Fishy Business Guide Service and Cabela's.
The upper Deschutes is very low and catching has been slow. The lower river on the other hand continues to be good. The stoneflies are still hatching and it should be good for another week or so.
Anglers fishing the North Fork of the Skokomish below Kokanee have been doing well on cutthroat. It is a long trek from the Potlatch State Park, but they had the river all to themselves and said the dry fly action was outstanding. A parachute Adams was the fly of the day.
Another good place for some large rainbows is the Tilton. Anglers fishing the lower river have been doing excellent using stonefly nymphs and bead-head lightning bugs.
Fly Fishing 07/17/2008
RIVERS: This week has been excellent for trout fishing. Stoneflies are out and the fish are chowing down. Tom Bolender of Fishy Business Guide Service and Cabela's said the Deschutes, Nisqually and Tilton rivers are all good choices if you want to catch some trout in the 12- to 18-inch range.
Fish smaller creeks, such as Waddle or Porter, if you want to catch a lot of fish. If you are not catching fish on the surface, try a bead-head pheasant tail nymph or a hare's ear and you will soon start catching fish.
For those anglers willing to make the drive across the mountains, the Yakima River also has been good over the past week. Big stonefly nymphs tossed over the bank have been catching some of the big, wild rainbow hogs we hear about every year. One angler reported catching the largest fish he had ever caught: a 24-inch trout.
Fly Fishing 07/10/2008
Once again, the Tilton River is the place to be. Tom Bolender of Fishy Business Guide Service and Cabela’s said fishing upstream or downstream from Gus Backstrom Park has been excellent.
Fish a Parachute Adams or a yellow Stimulator for some great dry fly action, or try a bead-head Pheasant Tail nymph for a larger number of fish.
The Deschutes River also has been good, with several anglers reporting catches of 20 to 30 fish over the course of four to six hours. The same flies working in the Tilton are working in the Deschutes.
There has not much in the way of steelhead to report, but one angler did have success fishing high up on the Wynoochee, where he landed a 12-pound buck swinging an egg-sucking leech.
Fly Fishing 07/03/2008
The Tilton River keeps dropping and fishing has picked up in the past few weeks.
Tom Bolender of Fishy Business Guide Service and Cabela's said the flies of choice have been Stimulators and elk-hair caddis.
It has almost been a dry fly game, Bolender said. The Deschutes is another story. Lots of cutthroat and a few rainbows have been caught using a variety of wet flies, including soft hackle hare's ears, woolly buggers and pheasant-tail nymphs.
If you want some surface action, Bolender said, use the same flies recommended for the Tilton, but don't forget to bring along a Parachute Adams.
The Nisqually River opened to fishing Monday. There have been no reports on success. If you plan to give the river a try, fishing the upper stretches around Ohop Creek might prove productive. Take all of the abovementioned flies with you.
More info on Fly Fishing
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Aberdeen
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Baker River 07/17/2008
The sockeye run is bleak [in the Skagit and Baker rivers] and it looks like we'll have no harvestable fish [for a Baker Lake fishery]," said Pat Pattillo, a state Fish and Wildlife salmon policy coordinator. "We'll know more [today] on the run size, but it may not even be 10,000 fish." (The preseason forecast was 25,000).
Baker River 07/03/2008
Brett Barkdull, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist says the sockeye are pouring into the Baker River, and while he hasn't gotten any reports this is usually the time when fishing pick up.
Baker River Sockeye
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Bogachiel River
See Olympic Peninsula Reports below........
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Calawah River
See Olympic Peninsula Reports below........
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Carbon River
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Cascade River 07/17/2008
Chinook and sockeye fishing on the Upper Skagit and Cascade is slow.
Cascade River 07/10/2008
Chinook fishing on the Upper Skagit and Cascade rivers is washed out due to high and swift water flows.
Cascade River 07/03/2008
The Upper Skagit and Cascade rivers were pretty much out of fishing shape, but before that it was fair to good.
The guys sticking around by the hatchery where the river dumps in are getting a few fish, and just before the rivers went out it was getting better," said Brett Barkdull, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Usually when the river comes back into shape fishing is good for a couple of days."
More info on the Cascade River
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Cedar River 07/16/2008
Cedar: River flows have finally reached normal levels for this time of year and the fishing has improved greatly. Some anglers are reporting catching some cutthroat trout in addition to larger rainbows.
Cedar River 07/12/2008
Cedar: Flows have nearly halved since Monday. While conditions are better and safer for wading, the fish might need a day or two to adjust to the new flows. Still, the season is more than a month old and we finally have a chance to fish the river. Nymphing with stoneflies would be a good way to start.
Cedar River 07/05/2008
Cedar: Flows have jumped up a bit in recent days, so it’s still not safe to wade the river.
Cedar River 07/02/2008
Cedar: The river is still a bit too high to safely fish, said Clark Jennings at Puget Sound Fly Co. The river is still running around 1,000 cfs and needs to be around 600 cfs to be safely waded.
Cedar River Basin Map & Info
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Chambers Creek
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Chehalis River 06/13/2008
CHEHALIS: High and cloudy.
Chehalis River Basin Map & Info
Chehalis River Salmon Fishing in Tidewater
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Cispus River
From mouth to North Fork it�s open for salmon year-round, for steelhead from Nov. 1- May 31, for other fish June 1- Oct. 31. The Cispus above the North Fork and the North Fork itself have the general stream season June 1- Oct. 31 so above the North Fork the Cispus fishing season closed Oct. 31.
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COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/24/2008
LOWER COLUMBIA: Last week, DFW personnel sampled 557 anglers (including 43 boats) with 173 steelhead kept/released, eight summer chinook released and one summer chinook kept.
Joe Hymer of the DFW's Vancouver office said including fish released boat anglers averaged a steelhead every 2.3 rods while bank anglers averaged one every 3.5 rods. Overall, 57 percent of the steelhead caught were kept.
Saturday, 217 boats and 448 Washington and 168 Oregon anglers were counted. Beginning Aug. 1, all chinook must be released in an 8-mile area (defined on Page 79 of the 2008/09 fishing rule pamphlet) of the Columbia near the mouth of the Lewis River.
BUOY 10: Beginning Aug. 1, salmon fishing opens seven days a week from the Buoy 10 line upstream to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line. Through Sept. 1, the daily limit is two salmon of which no more then one may be a chinook. Release wild coho, sockeye and chum. Chinook minimum size is 24 inches; coho 16 inches. Barbed hooks are allowed and anglers may fish with either a saltwater, freshwater or combination license.
ROCKY POINT/TONGUE POINT LINE UPSTREAM TO BONNEVILLE DAM: The salmon daily limit will be six hatchery coho, no more than two adults from Aug. 1 through 31 and Sept. 17 through Dec. 31. Any chinook, fin-clipped or not, may be retained. Release wild coho, sockeye and chum.
NORTH JETTY: Opens to fishing for salmon seven days a week when Marine Area 1 (Ilwaco) or Buoy 10 areas are open for salmon. Barbed hooks are allowed. The daily limit and minimum size restrictions follow the most liberal regulations of either area.
BONNEVILLE DAM TO THE STATE ROUTE 395 BRIDGE AT PASCO: The salmon daily limit will be six salmon (no more than two adults) beginning Aug. 1. Any chinook, fin-clipped or not, may be retained. Sockeye must be released. Also, wild coho must be released from Bonneville Dam to the Hood River Bridge, and chum upstream to McNary Dam.
PIKEMINNOWS:
Last week, 1,228 anglers caught 7,941 pikeminnows with eight tags recovered. Anglers averaged 6.5 pikeminnows per rod. There was one tagged fish every 993 pikeminnows caught. Once again, the Boyer Park area produced the best catch rates with 3,050 pikeminnows caught by 233 anglers. Washougal anglers caught 647 fish and 371 were caught in the Willow Grove area. Melissa Dexheimer of the DFW's Vancouver office said, to date, 75,976 pikeminnows have been caught by 13,887 anglers with 112 tags recovered. Sunday, water temperature at Bonneville Dam was 66.9 degrees.
STURGEON:
Samplings taken at the Deep River/Knappton ramps last weekend showed boat anglers averaged 1 legal fish kept every two rods. Bank anglers averaged one fish every 12 rods. At llwaco, 274 charter boat anglers caught and released 267 sublegals and five legals with 251 legals kept. While 70 legals were caught and kept by 244 private boat anglers.
Saturday, 682 private and 13 charter boats, plus 43 Washington and 12 Oregon bank anglers were counted. No legals were sampled above Wauna to Marker No. 85. There were 79 boats and 10 Washington and 19 Oregon bank anglers counted in the area. A teleconference is today to review recreational sturgeon fishing in areas above and below the Wauna power lines.
COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/17/2008
COLUMBIA: Last week, boat anglers fishing below Bonneville Dam averaged a steelhead kept/released every 2.4 rods while bank anglers averaged one every 3.9 rods. The steelhead were caught throughout the river, with just more than half the fish caught kept.
Joe Hymer of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office said last week department personnel sampled 548 salmon anglers (including 44 boats) with 153 steelhead, two adult chinook released and one jack chinook. On Sunday, a total of 124 boats and 257 Washington and 52 Oregon bank angler were counted. Also Sunday, steelhead counts at Bonneville Dam broke the 4,000 mark for the first time this year.
BONNEVILLE POOL: About 20 boats were observed at the mouth of the White Salmon River. Anglers are catching some steelhead.
PIKEMINNOWS
Last week, 1,304 anglers caught 10,467 pikeminnows, with one tagged fish for every 1,047 caught. The Boyer Park area produced the best catch rates last week. The 241 anglers caught 4,158 pikeminnows. Fishing also was good at The Dalles, with 1,606 pikeminnows caught by 161 anglers.
Anglers at Cathlamet did well (116 anglers caught 787 fish), as did anglers at Kalama and Chinook Landing.
Melissa Dexheimer of Fish and Wildlife's Vancouver office said to date, 12,659 anglers have caught 68,035 pikeminnows with 104 tags recovered. The average catch was 5.4 fish per angler. Water temperature Monday at Bonneville Dam was 66.4 degrees.
For more information regarding the 2008 Northern Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery, call 360-906-6707.
STURGEON
Boat anglers at Knappton and Deep River ramps averaged a legal sturgeon kept every 2.6 rods during the retention season Thursday through Saturday. Bank anglers between Knappton and Chinook averaged a legal kept every 8.4 rods during the same period. A few green sturgeon also were caught and released.
Boat anglers fishing between the Wauna power lines and Marker No. 85 have been catching some legals, but bank angling has been slow. On Sunday, 100 boats and five Washington and nine Oregon bank anglers were counted. Bonneville Pool is closed to retention of sturgeon through the end of the year.
SHAD
Still little effort and catch below Bonneville Dam
COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/16/2008
Columbia: Charter boat anglers fishing from Ilwaco and Chinook had greater success last week, with 81 percent of those checked by the state keeping their one-fish limit. A little less than one in every three private boat anglers kept a legal- sized fish, said a state report. A few anglers are catching shad off the bank just below Bonneville Dam. Below Bonneville Dam, boat anglers averaged a steelhead kept/released per every 2.4 rods, while bank anglers averaged one per every 3.9 rods. The steelhead count at Bonneville Dam on Sunday broke the 4,000 fish mark for the first time this year.
COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/10/2008
COLUMBIA: Summer chinook fishing is closed below Bonneville Dam, but it is open for hatchery steelhead and jacks. Boat angler effort has tapered off below Bonneville Dam since the June 28 summer chinook season closure, with a little more than 100 boats counted Saturday (600 boats were counted on the last day of chinook season). Washington bank angler activity remains strong.
During the first six days of July, boat anglers averaged one salmon for every two rods, while bank anglers averaged one for every 4.6 rods. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reported anglers had the best success for steelhead between Tongue Point and Clatskanie.
Joe Hymer of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Vancouver, Wash., office said the sockeye run was upgraded last week from 200,000 to 230,000 sockeye. It would be the third-highest return since the construction of Bonneville Dam in 1938. The record is 237,723 fish in 1955.
PIKEMINNOWS
Pikeminnow catches continue to be good throughout the Columbia River. Last week 1,268 anglers caught 11,044 pikes, with 21 tags recovered. For the week ending July 6, there was one tagged pikeminnow for every 526 caught. Last week, anglers fishing the Columbia near Rufus, Ore., averaged 12.4 fish per rod (The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife must verify tags before anglers can receive the $500 reward). At The Dalles, 1,606 pikeminnows were caught, with four tags recovered.
Rewards are as follows for fish caught for the 2008 season:
• The first 100 fish: $ 4 per fish
• 101 to 400 fish : $ 5 per fish
• More than 400 fish: $ 8 per fish
• Tagged fish: $ 500 per tagged fish
Last year, a total of $1,285,971 was paid out in rewards. Melissa Dexheimer of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Vancouver office said to date 11,355 anglers have caught 57,568 pikeminnows.
On Sunday, the water temperature at Bonneville Dam was 64.4 degrees.
STURGEON
Fishing has slowed in the lower Columbia, but Bonneville Pool anglers have been doing well. Boat anglers there averaged a legal kept every two rods. Bank anglers also are catching some legals. Bonneville Pool closes for sturgeon retention this Saturday. From the Wauna powerlines upstream to Marker No. 85, effort and catches have been light. On Saturday, 57 boats, nine Washington bank anglers and four Oregon bank anglers were counted. The area downstream from the Wauna powerlines reopens to sturgeon retention today through Saturday. The area also will be open July 17-19 and July 26-27. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed during nonretention days.
WALLEYE AND BASS
Samplings taken last week showed Bonneville Pool boat anglers averaged nearly five bass per rod when including fish released. Bank anglers averaged more than a fish per rod. No effort was observed for walleye.
SHAD
Effort and fish counts are tapering off. Just seven boats, 32 Washington bank anglers and 12 Oregon bank anglers were counted Saturday. On Sunday, counts at Bonneville Dam decreased to 10,000 fish. Through July 6, a little more than two million shad had been counted at the dam, compared with 2.5 million last year.
COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/09/2008
Columbia: Boat anglers averaged half a steelhead and jack salmon per rod while bank anglers averaged one per every 4.6 rods during the first six days of July, said a state report. The shad counts continue to fall, and so does the effort. A report said seven boats and 44 bank anglers were counted during a Saturday flight. Through Sunday, a little more than 2 million shad had been counted at Bonneville Dam compared to 2.5 million last year.
COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/05/2008
Columbia: Anglers can keep sockeye salmon through Sunday. Last weekend, the bank anglers had the best action, averaging a salmonid handled per every 4.4 rods; boat anglers averaged one per every 10 rods. Sockeye numbers seem to be falling off. On Tuesday, 4,898 sockeye were counted at Bonneville Dam. The total run has been 193,707 fish. The preseason forecast for the return was 75,600 fish. It was upgraded June 26 to at least 210,000. Bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam last weekend averaged two shad handled per rod. The run seems to be declining, with 26,268 fish counted on Tuesday, bringing the total to 1,949,723.
COLUMBIA RIVER REPORTS 07/03/2008
COLUMBIA: The river has opened to the retention of fin-clipped summer steelhead, summer chinook jacks (less than or equal to 24 inches), sockeye (fin-clipped or not) and shad from Rocky Point upstream to Bonneville Dam. The sockeye fishery will close Sunday.
June 29-30, bank anglers averaged a salmon handled per 4.4 rods while boat anglers averaged one per 10 rods. Tanna Takala of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife said anglers need to be mindful of high flows in the Columbia and use caution when anchoring.
The preseason forecast for the 2008 Columbia sockeye return was 75,600 fish, which included 13,700 Wenatchee stock, 61,200 Okanogan stock and 700 Snake River sockeye. Joe Hymer of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said last week the Technical Advisory Committee upgraded the run to 210,000 fish.
Pikeminnows
Last week, 1,416 anglers caught 110,486 pikeminnows for an average of 7.4 fish per angler. There was one tagged fish for every 477 pikes caught.
To date, 10,087 anglers have caught 46,524 pikeminnows.
Melissa Dexheimer of Fish and Wildlife said last week fishing was very good at Boyer Park, where 234 anglers caught 3,100 pikes. At Columbia Point, anglers averaged 10 fish per rod. The Dalles, Gleason, Cathlamet and Cascade Locks also produced good catches of pikeminnows. Water temperature at Bonneville Dam was 63.1 degrees Sunday.
Shad
Last weekend, bank anglers just below Bonneville Dam averaged two shad kept/released per rod. Dock anglers at Steamboat Landing also were catching some fish as were boat anglers from Camas/Washougal upstream.
Walleye and bass
Bonneville Pool anglers have been catching some bass, but no effort has been observed for walleye.
Eastern Wa. River Basin Map & Info
Ocean Fishing out of the Columbia River
Columbia River History
More info on Sturgeon Fishing
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Coweeman River
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Cowlitz River 07/24/2008
COWLITZ: Fishing has been sporadic because of fluctuating flows, said Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground. Boat anglers have been doing fairly well in the Blue Creek and Mission Bar areas and so are bank anglers at Barrier Dam; however, they have been doing better at Blue Creek. A mixture of baits and gear are being used.
Jim McDaniels of Tumwater Sports said when normal baits and gear are not working, experimentation is the order of the day. At the lower end of the river, boat anglers are catching some steelhead side drifting baits and pulling plugs. Bank anglers also are catching some steelhead.
Cowlitz River 07/17/2008
COWLITZ: Anglers continue to catch steelhead around the trout hatchery, barrier dam and Blue Creek. Bank angling has been fair at barrier dam during morning and evening hours and about the same for the Blue Creek area.
Shore anglers are using a lot of jig-and-bobbers while boat anglers have using Spin-N-Glow and divers with coon shrimp. They also have been free-drifting baits.
Jarrod Ligh of 4 Corners Store in Castle Rock said bank anglers have been doing well in the lower river and catches have increased for boat anglers. The river is at summertime low, with a visibility of about 2 to 3 feet above the mouth of the Toutle, but chocolate-brown below the mouth.
Last week, 772 summer steelhead, 41 spring chinook adults, 14 jacks, 66 minijacks and one cutthroat returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
Cowlitz River 07/16/2008
Cowlitz: Anglers continue to catch steelhead around the trout hatchery, said a state report. Bank anglers are having better luck at Blue Creek. Last week, Tacoma Power recovered 772 summer-run steelhead, 41 spring chinook adults, 14 spring chinook jacks, 66 spring chinook mini-jacks and one cutthroat trout during five days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
Cowlitz River 07/12/2008
Cowlitz: Anglers are having some success for steelhead, depending on the river flows. The key is having enough weight to get your setup to the right depth, said Don Glaser of Barrier Dam Campground.
Cowlitz River 07/10/2008
COWLITZ: Flows have been fluctuating the past few days, which has affected fishing. Don Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground said fishing has been pretty good on some days and pretty slow on other days. It has all depended on the flow. Jim McDaniels of Tumwater Sports said persistence pays off. If anglers pay close attention to the flow and use the correct of amount of weight relative to the flow, chances are the outcome should be fruitful. Catches of steelhead were good last weekend at Barrier Dam and Blue Creek but dropped off Monday. Jarrod Ligh of 4 Corners Store in Castle Rock said bank anglers plunking have been doing well, but it has been slow for boat anglers. Shrimp has been the bait of choice. Last week, 573 summer steelhead, 127 spring chinook, 32 jacks, 39 mini-jacks and one sockeye returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
Cowlitz River 07/09/2008
Cowlitz: Steelhead action is fair to good. Bank and boat anglers near the trout hatchery have averaged nearly a hatchery steelhead per rod.
Cowlitz River 07/05/2008
Cowlitz: Bank and boat anglers around the trout hatchery averaged nearly a hatchery steelhead per rod, according to state creel checks. Some sea-run cutthroat trout were also being caught. Corkies and yarn in pink, rocket red or shrimp colors are working best.
Cowlitz River 07/03/2008
COWLITZ: Angler activity has been heavy the past few days with good catches of steelhead being had by bank anglers at Blue Creek and barrier dam. Karen Glazer of Barrier Dam Campground said boat traffic also has been heavy in the Blue Creek area with good catches of steelhead also being had. The fish have been hitting coon shrimp, sand shrimp and eggs. Overall, fishing has been very good even in high water.
Jim McDaniels of Tumwater Sports said the bite apparently has been best during early afternoon and late evening hours. Flows Tuesday were 13,600 cubic feet per second, with about 10 feet visibility.
Jarrod Ligh of 4 Corners Store in Castle Rock said some steelhead are being caught in the lower river. The mouth of the river is chocolate brown. Last week, 400 summer steelhead, 125 spring chinook adults, 24 chinook jacks and 44 chinook mini-jacks returned to the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery.
Cowlitz River Basin Map & Info (PDF File)
Cowlitz River Project Map
Friends of the Cowlitz
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Dechutes River 05/24/2008
Deschutes: Unaffected by snow melt, fly fishing on the river has been very good. Try using a caddis pupa or emerger pattern just below the surface.
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Dewatto Creek
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Dickey River
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Drano Lake 07/24/2008
DRANO LAKE: Effort and catches are increasing. Many limits of steelhead were reported taken Saturday. Nonbuoyant lure restrictions go into effect Aug. 1.
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Duwamish River
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Elochoman River 07/24/2008
GRAYS AND ELOCHOMAN: July 31 is the last day to fish for hatchery spring chinook on both systems and hatchery steelhead on the Grays ( including the West Fork). Both rivers are scheduled to open to fishing for fall salmon Sept. 1.
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Elwha River
No Recent Reports.........
Elwha River info
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Entiat River 06/07/2008
Entiat: Salmon fishing opens today and runs through July 15. Anglers can keep a daily limit of two hatchery chinook salmon no smaller than 12 inches. Fishing is allowed from the Alternate Highway 97 bridge near the mouth of the river, upstream approximately six miles to 400 feet downstream of the Entiat National Fish Hatchery discharge channel.
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Grand Ronde
No New Reports..........
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Grays River 07/24/2008
GRAYS AND ELOCHOMAN: July 31 is the last day to fish for hatchery spring chinook on both systems and hatchery steelhead on the Grays ( including the West Fork). Both rivers are scheduled to open to fishing for fall salmon Sept. 1.
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Green River (Cowlitz County) 07/10/2008
GREEN (Cowlitz County): A few steelhead are being caught in the South Fork. Early morning has been the best bite.
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Green River (King County) 07/24/2008
GREEN (King County): Catching has slowed, but steelhead are still being caught from Flaming Geyser State Park to Palmer. Sand shrimp has been the bait of choice.
Green River (King County) 07/23/2008
Green: Fishing has been slow but your chances of landing fish are solid near Flaming Geyser State Park according to Auburn Sports and Marine.
Green River (King County) 07/17/2008
GREEN (King County): Anglers still are catching steelhead from Flaming Geyser State Park to Palmer. Todd Rock of Auburn Sports and Marina said early morning and late evening have been the best bite periods. Sand or coon shrimp have been the baits of choice.
Green River (King County) 07/16/2008
Green: The fishing has been slow. Your chances are better if you put your time in early in the day near Flaming Geyser and Kanasket-Palmer state parks. Try using sand shrimp, cured prawns or spinners like a size 3 Blue Fox, said Todd Rock at Auburn Sports and Marine.
Green River (King County) 07/12/2008
Green: The best steelhead action has been between Flaming Geyser State Park and the Highway 18 bridge, said Todd Rock of Auburn Sports and Marine. Pawns and shrimp have been the popular baits.
Green River (King County) 07/10/2008
GREEN (King County): Steelhead fishing has been decent from Flaming Geyser to state Route 18. Todd Rock of Auburn Sports and Marine said to get around the big log jam, boat anglers need to stay left. Pawns and shrimp have been the baits of choice. Some cutthroat in the 18- to 20-inch range also have been caught. The river is gin clear.
Green River (King County) 07/09/2008
Green: Fishing was fair over the weekend. Most of the fish caught were below the Highway 18 bridge. Sand shrimp with a scent fished under a bobber has been most effective, said a staffer at Auburn Sports and Marine.
Green River (King County) 07/05/2008
Green: Bank anglers have been catching steelhead fairly consistently, said Todd Rock at Auburn Sports and Marine. Most anglers are using cured tiger prawns, sand shrimp and eggs. Boaters need to be aware of a logjam at Metzler Park. “Boaters need to stay to the left. If you go right, you’ll die,” Rock said.
Green River (King County) 07/02/2008
Green: Steelhead are being caught throughout the river, even though flows are a bit high, said Art Ramos at Sportco. Try around the Highway 18 bridge and near Palmer-Kanasket State Park.
Green River Basin Map & Info
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Hoh River 05/17/2008
Hoh: This Olympic Peninsula river opened for salmon fishing Friday below the mouth of Willoughby Creek. The season runs until Aug. 31, Wednesdays through Sundays only.
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Humptulips River
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Icicle Creek 05/14/2008
Icicle: Salmon fishing opens in this Chelan County stream with a daily limit of two chinook, minimum size 12 inches. The river is open from the closure signs 800 feet upstream of the mouth to 500 feet downstream of the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery rack.
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John's Creek
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Kalama River 07/24/2008
KALAMA: The river is low and clear. Fishing has been spotty during the day. Best bite has been during early morning and late evening hours using small baits. Jigs and bobbers have been working well. Spinners and spoons also are being used.
From the mouth to 1,000 feet below the upper salmon hatchery, fall chinook and hatchery coho may be kept beginning Aug. 1. It is expected 2- and 2-year-old mass-marked fall chinook will return to the river this year. Wild chinook jacks must be released.
Kalama River 07/23/2008
Kalama: “Steelheading has been the ticket,” said Wayne Orzel of Pritchard’s Western Anglers. He suggests fishing in the early morning or late evening.
Kalama River 07/17/2008
KALAMA: Early morning and late evening have been the best periods to fish because of recreational usage on the river. There are good numbers of steelhead throughout the river being caught with some regularity. Because the river is low and clear, small baits and light line are the rules of the day. Fishing has been good.
Kalama River 07/12/2008
Kalama: Action has been good. With water levels dropping, steelhead anglers should try smaller spinners, corkies-and-yarn and lighter colored baits, said Wayne Orzel at Pritchard’s West Angler. He warned anglers that flows are low enough that only rafts and pontoons should be used.
Kalama River 07/10/2008
KALAMA: Fishing has been good for steelhead throughout the river, which is getting to the point where only pontoon and rafts will be able to float the river. Smaller spinners, corkies-and-yarn and lighter colored baits have been the order of the day.
Kalama River 07/09/2008
Kalama: River color is good and the water is a bit low, but the fishing has been fair to good, said Wayne Orzel at Pritchard’s Western Angler. Anglers in the canyon have caught some salmon, but steelhead have been the predominant catch. Fishing has been best in low light conditions.
Kalama River 07/05/2008
Kalama: Shrimp, eggs and jigs in pink and white or the nightmare color scheme has been producing summer-run steelhead. The Beginner’s and Big Rock holes have been hot spots, said Randy Anderson at Sportco.
Kalama River 07/03/2008
KALAMA: Fishing has been decent the past few days. The river is floatable, with good clarity, said Wayne Orzel of Pritchard's Western Angler. Orzel said salmon are being caught mostly in the canyon and steelhead in fast runs throughout the river.
Port of Kalama
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Kennedy Creek
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Klickitat River 06/19/2008
Klickitat: Some bright chinook are being caught by bank anglers in the lower river, a state report said.
Klickitat River 06/11/2008
Klickitat: A state report said bank anglers below the Fisher Hill Bridge are catching a mix of spring chinook adults and jacks plus summer-run steelhead.
Klickitat River 06/07/2008
Klickitat: The river is slightly off color, but bank anglers on the lower river are landing some spring chinook and summer steelhead.
Klickitat River 06/05/2008
KLICKITAT: The river has a tinge of brown, but bank anglers are catching some spring chinook and summer steelhead in the lower river.
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Lewis River 07/24/2008
LEWIS: Boat anglers have been catching steelhead at the mouth. Elaine Byrnes of Anglers Workshop said fishing has been slow in the upper reaches of the river.
The wild fall chinook return to the Lewis is projected to be about half of the 5,700 natural spawn escapement goal. Also, fishing from any floating device will be prohibited on the North Fork Lewis from Johnson Creek (just below the hatchery) upstream to Merwin Dam. In 2007, boat anglers handled about a chinook per hatchery adult coho kept.
Lewis River 07/17/2008
LEWIS: Fishing has been good for steelhead. The river is at summertime low and clear. Because of lower water conditions there is more bank angling access, Elaine Byrnes of Anglers Workshop said. Boat anglers are catching steelhead from the mouth to the trap. Bank angling has been fair in the morning, the best window for catching fish. Overall fishing has been very good the past few days.
Lewis River 07/12/2008
Lewis: Good reports from the river for steelhead anglers. Elaine Byrnes of Anglers Workshop said there are plenty of fish in the river. The trick for bank anglers is finding a place from which to fish with river levels a bit high.
Lewis River 07/10/2008
LEWIS: The river is a little high, but fishable. Elaine Byrnes of Anglers Workshop said there are a lot of steelhead in the river. The problem for bank anglers has been trying to find a place from which to fish. Fishing has been good. The flow was 5,200 cubic feet per second Tuesday.
Lewis River 07/03/2008
LEWIS: The river is not at summer low but is in good fishing condition. Steelhead numbers are good with early morning the best fishing period for bank anglers. Elaine Byrnes of Anglers Workshop in Woodland said boat anglers have been doing well boon-dogging from the mouth to the dam. The majority of bank anglers have been plunking.
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McLane and Perry Creeks
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Methow River
No Recent Reports....
Methow River info
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Minter Creek
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Naselle River
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Newaukum
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Nisqually River 07/24/2008
NISQUALLY: The river is a little low with good color. Some legal fish are being caught in deep holes. Worms have been the bait of choice.
Nisqually River 07/17/2008
NISQUALLY: The river is low and clear with light angler activity. No fishing success was reported.
Nisqually River 07/12/2008
Nisqually: The upper reaches of the river have been producing a few fish, said a staffer at the Lacey Sporstman’s Warehouse. The lower river has been slow.
Nisqually River 07/10/2008
NISQUALLY: Some legal fish have been caught in the upper reaches of the river. Catching has been slow at the lower end.
Nisqually River 07/05/2008
Nisqually: Anglers are catching a few cutthroat trout, but the pressure has been light, according to a staffer at the Lacey Sportsman’s Warehouse.
Nisqually River 07/02/2008
Nisqually: Anglers have been spotting fish in the river prior to Tuesday’s opener.
Nisqually River Basin Map & Info
Nisqually River Management Program
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Nooksack River 01/08/2008
Slow....a couple of Steelhead have been caught below the bridge.
Nooksack River Basin Map & Info
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North Sound 06/04/2008
North Sound: Steelhead and salmon fishing was a bit slow because of less-than-ideal river conditions. The upper Skykomish, Sultan up to Reiter Ponds, was producing steelhead. Some fish are reaching 15 pounds.
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Olympic Peninsula Rivers 07/24/2008
OLYMPIC PENINSULA: Fishing has been slow. There are fish around, but not a lot of water or anglers, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. The Sol Duc has been producing a few fish and is the best prospect. The Calawah and Bogachiel are low and clear.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers 07/17/2008
OLYMPIC PENINSULA: The rivers are low and clear except the Hoh, which is high and dirty. Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks said fishing has been decent at times. Some sockeye are being caught in the Sol Duc plus a few coho. The coho run usually begins in earnest sometime later in the month. The Calawah and the Bogachiel have been producing a few steelhead and some cutthroat.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers 07/12/2008
Olympic Coast: The Soleduck might be the best bet. Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods said anglers have been catching some coho, sockeye, chinook and steelhead. Anglers also are catching steelhead in the Bogachiel and Calawah.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers 07/10/2008
OLYMPIC PENINSULA: River water levels are down but not too bad. Most of rivers still are floatable. Overall, fishing hasn’t been good, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. Last week, a couple of silvers were caught in the Sol Duc, plus some sockeye, chinook and steelhead. The Bogachiel and Calawah also have been producing some steelhead.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers 07/05/2008
Olympic Coast: The fishing has been so-so this week, said Bob Gooding at Olympic Sporting Goods. The water levels are low and clear. The Soleduck has some sockeye, chinook and steelhead. Just be there early in the morning or late in the day.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers 07/03/2008
OLYMPIC PENINSULA: Fishing has been decent, but catching has been tough. The Sol Duc River has been the best bet for kings, sockeye and steelhead the past few days, but water levels have been fluctuating daily because of snowmelt, said Bob Gooding of Olympic Sporting Goods in Forks. Gooding said that the way river conditions have been changing, anglers need to adapt to be successful.
Olympic Peninsula River Basin Map & Info
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Okanogan River
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Pend Oreille
Pend Oreille River Basin Map & Info
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Pilchuck River
No New Reports..........
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Port Angeles
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Puyallup River 07/03/2008
PUYALLUP: Fishing for trout opened Monday from the 11th Street bridge to the Carbon River and from the Carbon River to the Electron Power Plant outlet. The minimum size is 14 inches, with a daily limit of two fish. A catch-and-release fishery also opened for all game fish from the Electron Power Plant outlet upstream. Selective gear rules are in effect.
Puyallup River 06/28/2008
Puyallup: Reopens for trout Tuesday. From the 11th Street Bridge to the Electron Power Plant outlet, the limit is two fish, with a minimum size of 14 inches. Above the outlet, the river is catch-and-release.
Puyallup River Basin
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Queets River 03/05/2008
QUEETS: Steelhead fishing has been very good throughout the river, with some large fish being caught. The fish are hitting pink 1/8-ounce jigs.
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Quilcene River
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Quillayute River
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Quinault River
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Rocky Ford 07/02/2008
Rocky Ford: If you need a moving-water fly-fishing fix, try this desert spring creek, Jennings said. The key is to keep moving to find fish willing to take your fly.
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Salmon River
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Samish River
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Satsop River 06/05/2008
SATSOP: The river also is low and clear with little angling activity, Walt Harvey of Verle’s Sports in Shelton said.
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Sauk River 03/26/2008
The sauk is producing some steelhead in the catch and release fishery, but not a lot.
More info on the Sauk River
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Skagit River 07/17/2008
Chinook and sockeye fishing on the Upper Skagit and Cascade is slow.
"The sockeye run is bleak [in the Skagit and Baker rivers] and it looks like we'll have no harvestable fish [for a Baker Lake fishery]," said Pat Pattillo, a state Fish and Wildlife salmon policy coordinator. "We'll know more [today] on the run size, but it may not even be 10,000 fish." (The preseason forecast was 25,000).
Skagit River 07/10/2008
Chinook fishing on the Upper Skagit and Cascade rivers is washed out due to high and swift water flows.
"The Skagit and Baker rivers have been a bust for sockeye for the tribal and sport fisheries, because the flows are so high," said Pattillo.
Skagit River 07/03/2008
The Upper Skagit and Cascade rivers were pretty much out of fishing shape, but before that it was fair to good.
The guys sticking around by the hatchery where the river dumps in are getting a few fish, and just before the rivers went out it was getting better," said Brett Barkdull, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Usually when the river comes back into shape fishing is good for a couple of days."
Skagit River Basin Map & info
More info on the Skagit River
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Skate Creek
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Skookumchuck River 04/19/2008
Skookumchuck: Fishing has been slow.
Skookumchuck River 04/17/2008
SKOOKUMCHUCK: Fishing has been slow.
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Skokomish River
Skokomish River Channel (PDF)
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Skykomish River 07/23/2008
Skykomish: The action has been outstanding here for those trying to land steelhead and Chinook, Chamberlain said.
Skykomish River 07/17/2008
Fishing in the Sky [Skykomish River] is holding its own, and we're kind of seeing an inversion in the catches from steelhead to chinook," said Chad Jackson, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The water level is starting to drop. There isn't much coming back to Reiter Ponds [only 50 steelhead not including some spillover of fish last weekend] so we may have to delay the [Aug. 1] opening there."
A check on the Skykomish from July 7 to July 13 showed 166 anglers kept 19 chinook and released seven, and kept nine steelhead and released two.
Skykomish River 07/10/2008
The water bounced up real high and kind of came down over the weekend on the Sky [Skykomish River], but those who toughed it out were still catching steelhead, which is still holding strong," said Chad Jackson, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "Effort was way down and I don't know how much of that was related to the holiday and the opening of crabbing."
A Skykomish check June 30-July 6 showed 74 anglers caught four chinook and 12 steelhead.
Skykomish River 07/03/2008
The [Skykomish River] wasn't too bad, and we're interviewing a lot of anglers bringing in steelhead and chinook," said Chad Jackson, a state Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The river water level is bouncing up and down, and when it starts to decrease people are finding some pretty good fishing. The reports are showing some good-sized chinook, and we saw one 28-pounder from a regular who fishes from the shore."
Last week, 224 Skykomish anglers kept 18 chinook and 22 steelhead for an average of about one fish for every 5 ½ rods.
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Smith Creek
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Snake River
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Snohomish River
Snohomish River Basin
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Snoqualmie River 06/19/2008
The Snoqualmie has been fair to good for steelhead from mouth of Tolt to the falls, says Bryan Nelson at Three Rivers Marine and Tackle in Woodinville who points out there is a no bait restriction so jigs and floating hardware is the way to get them to bite.
Snoqualmie River 06/03/2008
Snoqualmie is producing some fish near the falls.
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Sol-duc River 05/17/2008
Sol Duc: Fishing for spring chinook continues to be fair on this river.
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Sooes River (Neah Bay)
No recent report. You will need a tribal permit to fish this little river, available in Neah Bay at Washburns General store 360-645-2211.
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Stillaguamish River N. Fork 06/03/2008
Fly Fishing only......is producing some fish.
Stillaguamish River Basin Map & Info
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Tilton River 01/10/2008
TILTON: Last week, 111 adult coho, one jack and three winter steelhead were released into the river at Gus Backstrom Park in Morton.
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Toutle River 06/14/2008
Toutle: Anglers have been using mostly eggs to catch steelhead. Action on the lower river has been slow.
Toutle River 05/22/2008
TOUTLE: Portions of the mainstem, North and South Forks and Green rivers open to hatchery steelhead June 1. In 2006, 24,971 hatchery summer run steelhead smolts were released into the Green River (Cowlitz County).
Toutle River (South Fork) 06/19/2008
SOUTH FORK TOUTLE: Has been fair for steelhead. The river is running high.
Toutle River (South Fork) 06/07/2008
South Fork Toutle: There are plenty of anglers on the river, said Jim McDaniels of Tumwater Sports, but they are catching steelhead in good numbers.
South Fork Toutle River 06/05/2008
SOUTH FORK TOUTLE: The river is worth fishing, Jim McDaniels of Tumwater Sports said. Angler activity has been heavy, but they are catching good numbers of steelhead.
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Walla Walla River
No New Reports............See Oregon river reports for more info on this river.
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Washougal River 05/22/2008
WASHOUGAL: Beginning June 1, bait may be used and the river will be open to fishing for hatchery steelhead upstream to the Salmon Falls Bridge. Anglers are reminded the night closure from the mouth to the Mount Norway Bridge at Vernon Road is in effect at all times.
Washougal River 05/01/2008
WASHOUGAL: There have been no reports of angling success. The first eight summer-run steelhead of the year have been reported at Skamania Hatchery.
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Wenatchee River
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Whatcom Creek
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White Salmon River 07/24/2008
WHITE SALMON: Anglers are reporting lots of steelhead hooked. About two dozen boats were observed outside the mouth Sunday morning. Nonbuoyant lure restrictions go into effect Aug. 1.
White Salmon River 07/17/2008
WHITE SALMON: Bank anglers have been catching some steelhead.
White Salmon River 07/16/2008
White Salmon: A state report said bank anglers are catching steelhead. There were just a handful of boats there early this week.
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Willapa River
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Wind River 06/26/2008
WIND RIVER and DRANO LAKE: Monday was the last day of the spring chinook fishery. Wind River from Shipherd Falls upstream will be closed to all fishing until the catch-and-release steelhead fishery in mid-September. Wind River from 400 feet below Shipherd Falls and Drano Lake will remain open to fishing for hatchery steelhead.
Wind River 06/25/2008
Wind: Monday is the last day of the spring chinook fishery here and in Drano Lake.
Wind River 06/19/2008
WIND: There are still a few fish at the mouth as evidenced by catches and resuming trapping operations at Shepherd Falls. Best fishing has been near the coffer dam; however, the area is slowing. It appears fish are on the move with counts at the hatchery increasing to a 100-fish Sunday. High water is still affecting fishing in the upper river.
Wind River 06/18/2008
Wind: There still are a few fish at the mouth based on catches and resumed trapping operations at Shipherd Falls, a state report said. Action at the coffer dam has slowed.
Wind River 06/11/2008
Wind: Anglers were having success in the coffer dam area late last week, but also reported the upper river was too high for any success, according to a state report.
Wind River 06/05/2008
WIND: The daily limit has been increased for spring chinook jacks. Some spring chinook are being caught at the mouth, but most of the effort and catch has been in the river up to the coffer dam. Access is restricted in the lower river. Little to no effort in the upper river.
Wind River 06/04/2008
Wind: Some spring chinook are being caught at the mouth, but most of the effort and catch have been in the river up to the coffer dam, a state report said.
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Wynoochee River 07/24/2008
WYNOOCHEE: The river is low and clear. Fishing has been slow.
Wynoochee River 07/17/2008
WYNOOCHEE: Some steelhead are being caught at the lower end of the river, which is low and clear.
Wynoochee River 07/12/2008
Wynoochee: Low and clear water levels are keeping success down. People are still landing some steelhead, just not in the numbers as earlier in the season.
Wynoochee River 07/10/2008
WYNOOCHEE: The river is low and clear. Walt Harvey of Verle’s Sports in Shelton said some steelhead are being caught, but not as often as they have been.
Wynoochee River 07/03/2008
WYNOOCHEE: The lower end of the river has been holding its own for steelhead with fair catches being had. The fish have been hitting shrimp and eggs. Fishing in the upper reaches of the river has been slow.
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Yakima River 07/12/2008
Yakima: Fly fishing with adult and emerger caddis patterns has been working well this week. Smaller flies, sizes 14 and 16, seem to be working better than the larger flies anglers typically use this time of year because of lower water conditions, said a staffer at Red’s Fly Shop.
Yakima River 07/09/2008
Yakima: Flows are nearly half what they were a week ago, and fishing conditions are good, said a report from Red’s Fly Shop. Nymphing is best during mid-day and dry fly action is best during low light conditions. If you are using large dry flies for the stonefly hatch, cast tight to the bank.
Yakima River 07/05/2008
Yakima: The upper stretches might be the best option as the river settles into its summer flows, even though flows are higher than average right now. A staffer at Red’s Fly Shop said the stoneflies are appearing more each day, and the caddis hatches have been strong on hot days.
Yakima River 07/02/2008
Yakima: Fishing has been tough in recent days as the water flows have come up, said Jack Mitchell at The Evening Hatch. Flows have doubled in the last week. The best setup is a stonefly nymph with a caddis or pale morning dun nymph as a trailer.
Yakima River Basin Map & Info
Yakima River Fly Fishing & Map
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See also Idaho & Oregon River Fishing Reports Below
Idaho River Reports
Oregon River Reports
Also check out the River Data Page.
River Data Info Page
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