Washington State Fishing Guides
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| 2014 Winter Steelhead Special Click Here 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 jessica@washingtonstatefishingguides.com |