March is looking great for fishing options across Washington State, and we've got alot to talk about in the fishing report. Some great Puget Sound salmon fishing is happening now, with more openers in the very near future. Trout and Kokanee fishing around Washington is starting to heat up. Columbia River Spring Chinook fishing is happening now and should get red hot at the end of the month!
Puget Sound Region
South Puget Sound Salmon fishing has been pretty decent, Marine Area 13 has been kicking out some nice Chinook at Point Gibson and Point Fosdick to the Bridge. Trolling flasher & spoon or bait near the bottom has been the ticket. Salmon Gear
Central Puget Sound Salmon should be opening at the beginning of April, we are expecting a 4 day opener, still to be officially annouced!
Lake Washington Trout & Kokanee fishing has been excellent. With the mild winter, we've had many days with good catching, including some monster Cutthroat. Most of the efforts have been on the south end of the lake, but the guys launching at Magnuson in Seattle have reported some good Cutthroat fishing in front of Kirkland.
Trout Gear
Lake Sammamish Trout anglers are finding some good fishing, maybe not as consistent as Lake Washington but still worth a trip! Lots of Cutthroat around the weather buoy, and if you're fishing in a kayak or small boat and staying closer to the State Park, fish surface to 40' in front of Issaquah Creek and troll towards Greenwood Point.
Puget Sound Halibut officially opens April 2nd! The season will be through June 30 and open 7-days a week.
Halibut Gear
Olympic Peninsula & Coast
Olympic Peninsula Steelhead fishing has been decent on rivers like the Bogachiel, Quillayute, Clearwater and pretty good on the Hoh, Queets and Sol Duc. We are just ahead of a major storm front that should push most of the coastal rivers out of shape for a while, but will make those last few days of the season before the end of the month really good!
Steelhead Gear
Coastal Razor Clamming keeps on rolling on the Washington Coast. We've had a great season so far, and another round of openers is set for March 17 to 24. Check out more here.
Washington Coast Lingcod & Rockfish opens on Saturday March 14th and everyone is excited to get back out on the ocean. The early part of the season is a great time to restock your whitefish freezer stash when the weather permits. Many have already planned out their March with trips to Westport and Neah Bay.
Lingcod & Rockfish Gear
Strait of Juan de Fuca Halibut officially opens on April 2nd, which is just around the corner! The first few weeks of the season can yield some really great fishing in the Strait Read more here.
Southwest Washington
Columbia River Spring Chinook has been off to a slow start, as is typical. With our unseasonably mild winter and low snowpack, we should see water temperatures climb any day to that magic number which kick starts the mass migration. Anglers have been picking up a few around Cathlamet, Willow Grove and Kalama. See the full report here.
Cowlitz River Steelhead fishing has been good! Lots of Hatchery Steelhead to be found around the Blue Creek area. Most of the guides are running a bobber dogging program with Soft Beads and working the area around the Blue Creek Launch and the Clay Banks. Bank fishing has been good as well with traditional drift fishing gear and corkies.
Steelhead Gear
Kalama River Steelhead fishing has been decent, not a ton of angling pressure and there are a few quality Wild Steelhead to be found. The river should start to see a trickle of Spring Chinook as well, which makes this river a special place to fish in the spring.
Willapa River Steelhead fishing has been mediocre. Water flows through the end of the season will be mostly high, so keep an eye open for that window that it's dropping before the next rain system pushes in.
Cascades & Central Washington
Lake Chelan has been kicking out some exceptional Kokanee fishing. Anglers have been able to find really good fishing in the lower basin close to the launches and town. Fishing has been best
Kokanee Gear
Eastern Washington
Columbia Basin Lake fishing season officially kicked off on March 1 with the early opener, dozens of lakes in Eastern Washington opened for fishing and lots of trout are out there to be had!
Northeast Washington
Rufus Woods Reservoir fishing for Triploid Rainbows has been okay. Higher flows and more spill over Grand Coulee has made for some faster flows so fish the edges and up your sinkers and bait sizes!
Lake Roosevelt clarity is starting to muddy up, but fishing has been pretty good for Rainbows and Kokanee. Some bank anglers have had some good action for trout plunking powerbait and the boat anglers are finding limits.
