Rivers in Clark County
Columbia River
Columbia River: The Columbia offers both beach and boat angling as it passes through Clark County. Species available include sturgeon, shad, winter and summer steelhead, sea-run cutthroat trout, plus salmon during open seasons. Check local newspapers or with the regional WDFW office in Vancouver for the latest information on seasons and catch limits. WDFW office phone numbers are listed on the inside front cover. All wild cutthroat and steelhead must be released. From Bonneville Dam downstream to the mouth, the daily limit on sturgeon is one fish, 42-60 inches in length. Anglers can continue to catch-and-release sturgeon after they have legally recorded their daily bag limit. Fishing for shad peaks in June, with most of the effort in this area concentrated at the top end of Lady Island, near the mouth of Camas Slough and off the public dock in Washougal. Yellow perch, various catfish species, largemouth and smallmouth bass, and crappie are caught in the main river and connecting sloughs, with some walleye taken too. Check the regulations pamphlet for new walleye rules.
Lake River
Lewis River (East Fork)
Lewis River, East Fork: The East Fork Lewis offers fishing for summer and winter steelhead. All wild steelhead must be released. Both boat and bank angling are available. All salmon angling is closed in the East Fork Lewis, and the river upstream from Sunset Falls is closed to all angling under permanent regulations.
Lewis River (Main)
Lewis River, main stem: The main stem produces spring and fall chinook and coho salmon, summer and winter steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat. A popular and crowded spring chinook fishery has typically taken place near the mouth from mid-March through May. Some opportunity is possible this year. Late summer and fall months bring lots of interest in fall chinook, coho and steelhead, but restrictions will be needed to protect depressed runs of wild fall chinook. Check with the regional WDFW office in Vancouver for the latest information on seasons and catch limits. WDFW office phone numbers are listed on the inside front cover. All wild steelhead and wild cutthroat must be released. Some bank access is available along the dike area. There are several public and private boat launches along the lower Lewis, including a WDFW launch on the dike just below the confluence of the East and North Forks.
Lewsi River (North Fork)
Lewis River, North Fork: The area above Eagle Cliff Bridge to the lower falls is open to catch-and-release, selective gear rules fishing with a standard June 1 opener. Including tributaries, this opens up 136 miles of potential blue-ribbon trout waters. The lower river has traditionally provided fishing opportunities for coho and chinook salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout, with lots of bank and boat access. Hatchery sea-run cutthroat are no longer released into the North Fork Lewis. To protect wild steelhead "jacks," the trout minimum size limit increases to 20 inches effective May 1, 2000. This year, spring chinook returns should be slightly improved, with some fishing opportunity expected. The current outlook for fall chinook is poor, and some fishery curtailments are expected. Returns of early and late hatchery coho should be good this year, though. Check with the regional WDFW office in Vancouver for the latest information on seasons and catch limits. WDFW office phone numbers are listed on the inside front cover. All wild steelhead and cutthroat must be released. Popular and productive spots near the salmon hatchery and Cedar Creek Hole can be extremely crowded. For updated river flows, call 1-800-547-1501.
Salmon Creek
Salmon Creek: This stream can provide good fishing for hatchery winter steelhead and sea-run cutthroat trout. Good access is available near Salmon Creek (Klineline Pond) Park.
Washougal River
Washougal River: The Washougal supports a summer and winter steelhead fishery. Summer-run fishing peaks in June and July, while the winter-run catches are usually best in December and January. Sea-run cutthroat releases have been discontinued in the Washougal. All wild cutthroat and steelhead must be released. Some fall salmon fisheries are possible this year. Check the pamphlet for salmon seasons, and be alert for emergency closures.
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