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| Directions Barrier Dam Boat Launch To get to the Barrier Dam boat launch from Interstate 5, take Highway 12 East about 12 miles. Turn right on Fuller Road. Continue until the "T" intersection and turn left on Spencer Road. Stay right at the "Y." Turn left into the salmon hatchery parking lot, or drive straight to get to the Barrier Dam boat launch and fishing area. Blue Creek Boat Launch To get to the Blue Creek Boat Launch from Interstate 5, take State Highway 12 east to the community of Ethel. Turn right (south) on to Tucker Road. Tucker Road bends to the right where it meets Classe Road at a Y. Go straight on to Classe Road. At the end of the road turn left on to Spencer Road. Watch for the signs directing you to turn right to go to the trout hatchery and to the Blue Creek boat launch USGS Cowlitz River Stream Flows |
| Waters West Guide Service 388 Geissler Rd Montesano, WA 98563 Since 2003 |
Columbia River
Cowlitz River
Lewis River
Chehalis River
Wynoochee River
Satsop River
Humptulips River
Kalama River
Nisqually River
Olympic Peninsula
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Cowlitz River
Lewis River
Chehalis River
Wynoochee River
Satsop River
Humptulips River
Kalama River
Nisqually River
Olympic Peninsula
Nuevo! En Espanol!
owlitz River Fishing Guides The Cowlitz River is world famous for Salmon and Steelhead Fishing. Salmon and Steelhead can be caught from the mouth of the Cowlitz near Longview to the Barrier Dam Salmon Hatchery. Steelhead are in the lower Cowlitz all year long.
Spring Chinook Salmon and Fall Chinook that weigh up to 50 plus pounds.Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, and Whitefish can be found above the Dam.There are hatcheries at Blue Creek and Barrier Dam.Current river flow information on the Cowlitz river, Nisqually river,
Wynoochee river and Green river, plus lake levels for Riffe lake, Alder lake, Wynoochee lake and Cushman lake, are available on Tacoma Power’s Fishing Line, toll free at 1-888-502-8690Cowlitz River Strong and wide, the Cowlitz River rolls downstream along 1-5 from
the Toledo/Vader area, past Castle Rock and then loops below Kelso/Longview into a giant fishhook shape before joining the Columbia. Huge salmon push their ponderous forms upriver in the Cowlitz, yielding thousands of catches to rodsmen enroute. A 24-hour fishery
from 400 feet below the barrier dam near Salkum from April I through July 31 allows anglers to take six fish daily, only three of which may exceed 24 inches. During the period August I-March 31 downstream from the salmon hatchery barrier dam signs the basic freshwater
salmon bag applies, with two adult fish permitted in a six- fish take of salmon over 10 inches in length. From Oct. I through Dec. 31 all Chinook over 28 inches in length caught upstream of the 1-5 bridge must be released, however. The upper Cowlitz, from the inlet of giant
Riffe (Davisson) Lake to the confluence of the Muddy Fork and Ohanapecosh Rivers is open all year round for taking a daily freshwater salmon bag limit (see regs.)Chinook to 40 and 50 pounds are not rare in the Cowlitz, but most Chinook will drag scale needles to around
25-30 pounds. The best catches come in May and June and again in late September through November, when schools of bright coho salmon thrash their way toward the barrier dam area to join the fray. Plugs, back-bounced shrimp and cluster egg baits or bait and yarn
combinations angled with drift rigs take their share of salmon. Bright spoons and spinners account for a good number of catches too, with coho especially fond of tiny No. 0, I and 2 Mepps spinners having nickel or brass finish. To cast and fish the pint-size lures, a No. 4 or 6
split shot is added 16 to 20 inches above the spinner. In the early 70's, tremendous runs of "silvers" flocked into the Cowlitz and the fishing near Salkum was superb. Another excellent way of hanging humungous salmon was to make long casts with thin, heavy spoons such
as the Martin Tackle Ottogator or Luhr Jensen Krocodile across the river and work the spoons slowly downstream, letting them hang at the point of furthest travel to antagonize salmon into giving them a savage chewing.The popular area at the Salkum barrier dam yields a
high number of steelhead catches, as does the fishing area below the Washington Department of Game trout hatchery at the mouth of Blue Creek, due south of Ethel via Tucker and Classe roads. At the upper barrier dam near Salkum, boat fishing is no longer allowed
between the mouth of Mill Creek (good concrete ramp) and the barrier dam deadline markers. Anglers also should read their regulations booklet on legal hooks and daylight fishing in this specific area.Good public boat ramps provide access to the Cowlitz fishing at Mill
Creek, Ethel Bar, trout hatchery, Massey Bar, downstream of 1-5, at the Castle Rock Fairgrounds, above Lexington and two miles below Longview. Bank anglers have equal opportunities to sink hooks home at dozens of sites reached off Highway 411 near the river mouth or
from county roads closely pursuing the Cowlitz from Toledo to Salkum. Fishermen can reach the upper river from Glenoma to about three miles short of Ohanapecosh by taking county and logging roads off Highway 12.
Spring Chinook Salmon and Fall Chinook that weigh up to 50 plus pounds.Rainbow, Brown, Cutthroat, and Whitefish can be found above the Dam.There are hatcheries at Blue Creek and Barrier Dam.Current river flow information on the Cowlitz river, Nisqually river,
Wynoochee river and Green river, plus lake levels for Riffe lake, Alder lake, Wynoochee lake and Cushman lake, are available on Tacoma Power’s Fishing Line, toll free at 1-888-502-8690Cowlitz River Strong and wide, the Cowlitz River rolls downstream along 1-5 from
the Toledo/Vader area, past Castle Rock and then loops below Kelso/Longview into a giant fishhook shape before joining the Columbia. Huge salmon push their ponderous forms upriver in the Cowlitz, yielding thousands of catches to rodsmen enroute. A 24-hour fishery
from 400 feet below the barrier dam near Salkum from April I through July 31 allows anglers to take six fish daily, only three of which may exceed 24 inches. During the period August I-March 31 downstream from the salmon hatchery barrier dam signs the basic freshwater
salmon bag applies, with two adult fish permitted in a six- fish take of salmon over 10 inches in length. From Oct. I through Dec. 31 all Chinook over 28 inches in length caught upstream of the 1-5 bridge must be released, however. The upper Cowlitz, from the inlet of giant
Riffe (Davisson) Lake to the confluence of the Muddy Fork and Ohanapecosh Rivers is open all year round for taking a daily freshwater salmon bag limit (see regs.)Chinook to 40 and 50 pounds are not rare in the Cowlitz, but most Chinook will drag scale needles to around
25-30 pounds. The best catches come in May and June and again in late September through November, when schools of bright coho salmon thrash their way toward the barrier dam area to join the fray. Plugs, back-bounced shrimp and cluster egg baits or bait and yarn
combinations angled with drift rigs take their share of salmon. Bright spoons and spinners account for a good number of catches too, with coho especially fond of tiny No. 0, I and 2 Mepps spinners having nickel or brass finish. To cast and fish the pint-size lures, a No. 4 or 6
split shot is added 16 to 20 inches above the spinner. In the early 70's, tremendous runs of "silvers" flocked into the Cowlitz and the fishing near Salkum was superb. Another excellent way of hanging humungous salmon was to make long casts with thin, heavy spoons such
as the Martin Tackle Ottogator or Luhr Jensen Krocodile across the river and work the spoons slowly downstream, letting them hang at the point of furthest travel to antagonize salmon into giving them a savage chewing.The popular area at the Salkum barrier dam yields a
high number of steelhead catches, as does the fishing area below the Washington Department of Game trout hatchery at the mouth of Blue Creek, due south of Ethel via Tucker and Classe roads. At the upper barrier dam near Salkum, boat fishing is no longer allowed
between the mouth of Mill Creek (good concrete ramp) and the barrier dam deadline markers. Anglers also should read their regulations booklet on legal hooks and daylight fishing in this specific area.Good public boat ramps provide access to the Cowlitz fishing at Mill
Creek, Ethel Bar, trout hatchery, Massey Bar, downstream of 1-5, at the Castle Rock Fairgrounds, above Lexington and two miles below Longview. Bank anglers have equal opportunities to sink hooks home at dozens of sites reached off Highway 411 near the river mouth or
from county roads closely pursuing the Cowlitz from Toledo to Salkum. Fishermen can reach the upper river from Glenoma to about three miles short of Ohanapecosh by taking county and logging roads off Highway 12.
Steelhead
catches from
the Cowlitz
rival the best
rivers in the
state and the
Cowlitz has
ranked as the
No. 1 winter
river several
times,
producing up to
32,000
steelhead
annually.
Summer-run
fishermen may
take from 500 to
1,600 ironheads
each year.
Adding more
fishing chances
seems like
gilding a lily, but
there is more ...
excellent
rainbow trout
fishing above
the two huge
reservoirs,
Mayfield and
Riffe, as well as
fine sea-run
cutthroat fishing
in the lower six
to eight miles of
river. A good
way to tangle
with the feisty
and willing cults
is to fish light
drift gear rigs
sporting single
egg baits or
thin, bright
trolling spoons.
The entire
Cowlitz River
is open to
year-round-trout
fishing for eight
fish daily, with a
12-inch
minimum
length
requirement.
The upper
deadline is
again the mouth
of the Muddy
Fork River.
Tributaries of
the upper
Cowlitz are
covered by the
late May-Oct.
31 general
season
regulations.
catches from
the Cowlitz
rival the best
rivers in the
state and the
Cowlitz has
ranked as the
No. 1 winter
river several
times,
producing up to
32,000
steelhead
annually.
Summer-run
fishermen may
take from 500 to
1,600 ironheads
each year.
Adding more
fishing chances
seems like
gilding a lily, but
there is more ...
excellent
rainbow trout
fishing above
the two huge
reservoirs,
Mayfield and
Riffe, as well as
fine sea-run
cutthroat fishing
in the lower six
to eight miles of
river. A good
way to tangle
with the feisty
and willing cults
is to fish light
drift gear rigs
sporting single
egg baits or
thin, bright
trolling spoons.
The entire
Cowlitz River
is open to
year-round-trout
fishing for eight
fish daily, with a
12-inch
minimum
length
requirement.
The upper
deadline is
again the mouth
of the Muddy
Fork River.
Tributaries of
the upper
Cowlitz are
covered by the
late May-Oct.
31 general
season
regulations.
| Cowlitz River Spring Chinook - Summer Steelhead Winter Steelhead Wow! Unless you've been alive since 1938 this will be the biggest Spring Chinook Run in your lifetime and possibly ever again! Don't miss out on this spectacular fishery with nearly half a million Spring Chinook expected to return to the Mighty Columbia River and it's tributaries. With numbers like these it's time to start planning your fishing trip for spring. Seats will be reserved quickly at this price, so book now before they're gone and you're left standing on the shore. Fishing is my only job, I will be chasing these fish every day. It is very important to book with a full time licensed and insured U.S. Coast Guard certified fishing guide, who stays on top of these fish every day and knows where they are, what they're biting on and what they're planning on having for lunch. We are currently taking reservations for the end of April through May for the Cowlitz River Spring Chinook Fishery. Book any date mid-week for only $150.00 per person. Weekends only $185.00 per person for groups of 3 or less, and $150.00 for groups of 4 or more. 253-389-0359 or email casey@fishwaterswest.com The Cowlitz River is located in Washington State and is a main tributary of the Columbia River. There are two state-run fish hatcheries on the river which provide great recreational fishing opportunities year round for both Salmon and Steelhead. Spring Chinook Fishing on the Cowlitz River We start targeting spring chinook on the Cowlitz River in the months of April through May. Spring Chinook or "Springers" are the best table fare of all salmon. These fish enter the Cowlitz River starting in April and do not spawn until fall. We target these fish in a variety of ways on the Cowlitz River, including; back-trolling, side-drifting, hover-fishing, and even bobber fishing. Summer Steelhead Fishing on the Cowlitz River After Spring Chinook fishing on the Cowlitz River our focus turns to Summer Steelhead fishing on the Cowlitz River. The summer steelhead start showing up on the Cowlitz River around June. Summer run steelhead are the most acrobatic and aggressive species we fish for on the Cowlitz River. Our favorite technique is side-drifting, but later in the summer we like to back-troll plugs and bait. Fall Salmon Fishing on the Cowlitz River Fall Salmon fishing on the Cowlitz River begins in late September and lasts throughout the month of November. We generally will start near the mouth of the Cowlitz River and follow the majority of the run upstream to the barrier dam. The two species of salmon we fish for on the Cowlitz River are King 'Chinook' Salmon and Silvers or 'Coho' Salmon. We use a variety of techniques including, side-drifting, twitching jigs, back-trolling, hover-fishing and casting hardware. This is an action-packed fishery with fish ranging from 5 to 50 pounds. Winter Steelhead Fishing on the Cowlitz River Winter Steelhead fishing on the Cowltiz River is one of our favorite fisheries of the year. With multiple hook-ups and lots of action, these aggressive and hard-fighting fish will keep your blood pumping. We fish for Winter Steelhead on the Cowlitz River from November through March. The most popular technique for Winter Steelhead on the Cowlitz is side-drifting bait. Don't miss out on this fishery. Fish Hatcheries on the Cowlitz River The Cowlitz River Salmon Hatchery produces nearly 13 million fish each year, including about 1.3 million spring Chinook, 5.0 million fall Chinook and 3.2 million coho salmon. This hatchery is located near Barrier Dam and the Barrier Dam boat launch, directly on the Cowlitz River. The Trout Hatchery is located near the Blue Creek Boat Launch and releases around 1.5 million fish a year. The species released here include Summer and Winter Steelhead as well as Sea-Run Cutthroat Trout. The Cowlitz River is famous for it's steelhead fishing. The Cowlitz River is a short drive from Portland International Airport (PDX) and there are many recreational opportunities for your stay in the area. The Cowlitz River is near the Famous Mt. Saint Helens Volcano, which last erupted in the early 1980's. Send us an email or call us today to book your Cowlitz River Fishing Adventure! 253-389-0359 253-312-8900 Send us an email to Book your Fishing Adventure |
Cowlitz River Winter Steelhead Fishing, Cowlitz River Summer Steelhead Fishing, Cowlitz River Salmon Fishing, Cowlitz River Fishing Guide
