Backed by one of Washington’s largest hatchery programs, the Cowlitz River offers salmon and steelhead action nearly every month of the year. The river flows about 105 miles from the Cascades near Mount Rainier to the Columbia at Longview and Kelso, and its upstream dams keep flows steadier and clearer than on many nearby rivers, so it often fishes well after storms. It’s roughly two hours from Seattle.
Seattle Fishing Company’s guide walks through a busy calendar. Spring Chinook build from March through May alongside B-run steelhead, summer-run steelhead provide hard-fighting action from June through August, and fall Chinook and coho fill the river from September, with coho peaking in October. Winter steelhead, the river’s signature fishery, are best in February and March.
Top spots include Blue Creek near Salkum, the Barrier Dam area, Toledo, Castle Rock and the lower river near Kelso. The guide also covers seasonal techniques like side-drifting, back-trolling plugs and plunking, plus reminders to identify hatchery fish and check changing regulations before every trip. While a jet sled opens up the best water, there’s plenty of productive bank fishing throughout the system. It’s a worthwhile trip for anglers of every skill level.
Read the full post here: Fishing the Cowlitz River
Guide to fishing on the Green River
