Washington Fishing Reports
Washington Fishing Reports
Columbia River Spring Chinook 2026 Seasons Set!
Spring Chinook are the first migratory return to the Columbia River of the year, and always kick off the fishing season with a ton of participation. Anglers all over the region will make their way to the big river in early Spring to catch, arguably the best tasting salmon available anywhere.
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Washington State Fishing Report - Mid-February 2026
February is really turning into a great fishing month, and we've got plenty to talk about in our new Fishing Report Series! Every region in Washington has some really good fishing going on right now, so whether you're looking to get out on Puget Sound, catch and release a trophy Steelhead, head to the beach for clamming, or find that hot trout fishing spot on a local lake, there's plenty to choose from!
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Cowlitz River Smelt Fishing Reopens Saturday February 21st
Smelt fishing season continues on the lower Cowlitz River this Saturday! The first opener of the 2026 season was on Wednesday and while sample surveys in the Columbia looked good, everyone was a little nervous when the state reported just days earlier that there were nearly no smelt in the Cowlitz itself. Still, anglers showed up and found that they had just arrived! Plenty of limits were found by the guys fishing on Wednesday.
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Cowlitz River Smelt Fishing One Day Opener on Feb 18th
Cowlitz River anglers will be able to dip-net for Smelt on Wednesday, February 18th from 8am to 1pm. This historic fishery has been a local favorite for generations, and a great opportunity for shore-bound anglers in the Castle Rock to Kelso area of the Lower Cowlitz River.
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Willapa River & Coast Steelhead Seasons set for Winter 2025-26
Southwest Washington is a region with some of the best Steelhead fishing rivers in the state, and one river system with some really impressive hatchery Steelhead returns, and some of the largest returns of Wild Steelhead, will see a pretty good winter season this year.
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