Cowlitz River Fishing Guides
Salmon and Steelhead Fishing
on the Cowlitz river is a popular fishery for Washington fishing guides. Cowlitz
river fishing guides fish for Salmon and Steelhead from the mouth of the Cowlitz
near Longview to the Barrier Dam Salmon Hatchery.
Cowlitz river steelhead
are caught in the lower Cowlitz river while Cowlitz river Spring Chinook
Salmon and Fall Chinook that weigh up to
50 plus pounds are caught on the Cowlitz River in the Fall. Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Cutthroat trout
and Whitefish are fun to catch but
Salmon and Steelhead fishing with Cowlitz
River fishing guides is great sport. When local area Cowlitz river
fishing guides who know "how to catch Salmon" on the Cowlitz river at
the Blue Creek hatchery or
below the Barrier Dam hatchery.
| Cowlitz River: Boating access is
available at the I-5 Bridge just south of exit 59, Massey Bar, Blue
Creek (Cowlitz Trout Hatchery), and the Barrier Dam (Cowlitz Salmon
Hatchery). For more information and directions on boating access
sites, go to http://www.rco.wa.gov
. For current, Real Time River flows check the USGS web site at
http://wa.water.usgs.gov/data for the latest map or call
Tacoma Power’s toll-free fishing hotline at (888) 502-8690. The
access areas at the Cowlitz salmon and trout hatcheries are provide
some of the most popular bank fishing areas on the river. Mill Creek
provides an additional hatchery winter steelhead opportunity during
some months. Night closures and non-buoyant lure restrictions are in
effect. Check the latest regulation pamphlet for additional
restrictions in the Mill Creek to Barrier Dam area. The outfall area
at the trout hatchery provides a special fishing area for
wheelchair-bound anglers; again, check the latest regulation
pamphlet for boundaries and more information. All cutthroat must be
released in the Cowlitz and Cispus rivers upstream from Cowlitz
Falls Dam, including Lake Scanewa, Clear and Muddy forks of the
Cowlitz, Ohanapecosh River, and North Fork of the Cispus. The North
Fork Cispus, and Clear and Muddy forks of the Cowlitz, have
selective gear restrictions during all open seasons.
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Salmon fishing Columbia River: Our favorite and
most productive area is the Columbia River between
Portland and Longview. Literally millions of salmon,
steelhead and Sturgeon flood past this area every year.
We fish out of a fully enclosed Thunder Jet river sled
that accommodates 4 fisherman. I am Coast Guard Licensed
and insured. |
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Cowlitz, Kalama, Lewis
Chinook runs appear strong
Good runs of spring Chinook salmon are forecast to return to the
Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers this year, although they are expected
to be down from the strong showing of 2004.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is predicting returns
of 12,700 spring Chinook to the Cowlitz, 4,500 to the Kalama and 7,600
to the Lewis River for a combined 24,800.
That's similar to the prediction of 27,300 in 2004, when 32,400 adult
spring salmon actually returned.
"This forecast is for a return like we've seen the past two years and
would be the the third best since 1989,'' said Patrick Frazier, deputy
regional fisheries manager for the department. "On a scale of strong
to weak, this year should be clearly to the stronger side.''
Frazier noted it was four years ago when the spring Chinook return to
the three rivers combined was just 7,100 adults. The recent-year low
was 3,100 in 1998.
The forecasts for the Cowlitz and Kalama rivers are heavy to
5-year-old spring Chinook, larger fish which return slightly earlier
than 4-year-olds.
The forecast for the Cowlitz is for 7,900 5-year-olds and 4,800
4-year-olds.
The forecast for the Kalama is 3,500 5-year-olds and 1,000
4-year-olds.
For the North Fork of the Lewis River, the prediction for 5-year-olds
is 3,700, with 3,900 4-year-olds anticipated.
Preliminary figures from last spring show a sport catch of 6,520 adult
in the Lewis River, 1,210 from the Kalama River, and 2,127 from the
Cowlitz River.
The catch in the Lewis River was the best since 1990.
The Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis river runs add to what appears to be a
good spring salmon year coming up.
A strong return of 254,100 spring Chinook are expected to enter the
Columbia River headed for waters upstream of Bonneville, and an
additional 116,900 are predicted to enter the Columbia en route to
Oregon's Willamette River.
Spring salmon from the Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers reside
primarily in the ocean off southern British Columbia. Upper Columbia
and Willamette spring Chinook migrate farther north.
The Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers will have plenty of fish for
sport seasons as the forecasts greatly exceed spawning levels.
Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery needs 1,150 spring Chinook, while Kalama Falls
needs 400 and Lewis River 750.
The standard sport fishing season open daily with two adult Chinook
allowed in the bag is expected in all three rivers.
Forecasts for the Wind, Little White Salmon, White Salmon and
Klickitat rivers in the Columbia River Gorge upstream of Bonneville
Dam are expected to be completed soon.
Spring Chinook Salmon Returns
Year Cowlitz Kalama
Lewis
1995 2,200
700 3,700
1996 1,800
600 1,700
1997 1,900
600 2,200
1998 1,100
400 1,600
1999 1,700
1,000 1,700
2000 1,700
1,400 2,200
2001 1,700
1,700 2,200
2002 3,700
2,800 2,000
2003 13,400
5,100 4,200
2004 16,700
4,600 11,100
2005* 12,700
4,500 7,600
* Forecast
Sources: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife |
Bank Fishing the Cowlitz River
Types of fish encountered-
Depending on the time of the
year, you will encounter cutthroat trout, steelhead, Chinook & Coho
salmon. Also in the fall when the salmon are in you will encounter Jack
salmon, usually Chinook. A "Jack" is anything under 24", they usually
will be about 18"+. It has even been reported of a sturgeon pulled at
the mouth of the Toutle.
Where to go-
The most popular spot for bank
fishing the Cowlitz is probably below the barrier dam for the salmon
hatchery. Downstream is another popular spot that is accessed with a
short walk from the Trout Hatchery site is the mouth of Blue Creek& is a
good location if you like company. Farther downstream there is a boat
launch at the Mission bar & fishing is possible off the banks here.. Then
farther yet the mouth of Olequa Creek and farther yet would be the mouth
of the Toutle. All of these are accessible to the public. As with any
river it may be best to go there & take a look when the water is low in
the summer. Note the locations of the large rocks, gravel bars, holes,
logs/stumps, etc. This will give you some idea of where to fish later
when the water is higher & the fish move into the river system.
Different types of
fishing-
Plunking
Spoons/spinners
Oakie/Corky
Bait
Jigs
Bobbers used with bait/jigs
Tackle-
Reels- Most bank
fishermen will probably use a spinning outfit, as it seems to be easier to
cast farther that is needed in this larger river. What ever reel you
decide to use it should have a GOOD drag system, as you do not have
the luxury of being in a boat that you can pick up & chase a large fish if
it decides to run.
Rods- A 8' 6" medium
weight salmon/steelhead rod will probably be seen mostly, as it can be
used well for cutthroat, or Chinook. Some of the dedicated jig fishermen
use a 10-11' rod.
Line- Line will
possibly vary depending the time of the year & what is in the river. But
normally a 12-15# mono will do. If Chinook are the quarry, then maybe up
to 20# could be used.
The
above information was used with the permission
LeeRoy Wisner
of
www.pugetsoundanglers.org
LeeRoy Wisner had posted several EXTREMELY informative articles on the
Puget Sound Anglers website and we strongly recommend visiting that
website or click here
to email him directly. As an editor's note I must say that in my lifetime
of searching every available resource I have never come across so many
helpful and informative articles as those written by LeeRoy Wisner.
Thanks again and hats to LeeRoy for giving us permission to post these
articles so that you can learn more about fishing and hopefully you catch
more fish!
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