Amenities. This is a small river system of modest interest to anglers, with some salmon (including Chinook and chum), steelhead and cutthroat trout present. The Kalama River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. The year-round salmon and steelhead fishing on the Cowlitz is some of the best, and its north of Portland. As a tributary of the Columbia River, the Kalama River is part of the largest river system in the West. Steelhead during the April - June months. Using our 17' drift boat, the large sweeping canyons, huge boulder Launched from The FREEramp at the Cincinnati Public landing.Checked out the spots that I was shown last October by a fishingguide. Kress Lake: Trout was recently stocked with over 2,000 rainbow trout and in the last month about 100 surplus Steelhead. A site dedicated to promoting sustainable outdoor harvest recreation in the PNW. Expect Lewis River springers to peak in June. Popular bank access is available at or near both of the hatcheries, though the area from 1,000 feet below the fishway to 1,000 feet above fishway at Kalama Falls Hatchery is closed to protect the fish that congregate there en masse. Early in the season, focus your efforts from the mouth of the river up to the Fallert Creek Hatchery, and then shift your attention farther upstream as the fish make their way upriver. Learn More, 01/13/2023 Its not currently stocked but you are legally allowed to retain any fin-clipped hatchery steelhead that may stray into the creek, which flows next to Highway 4 in about the lowest mile or so after bringing its forks together. Take a raft down the Kalama River in SW WA with guide, Cameron Black who's fishing with Joshua Giordano. Is open for Steelhead and trout. Trout fishing will reopen May 22, 2023. The lower Columbia River bordering Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties is most enthusiastically fished for salmon, especially the runs of Chinook salmon that come up the big river, both those turning into tributaries and those on their way farther upriver. This is a pretty big lake (773 acres) that has drive-up access only at the southwest end, just off State Route 504. Fishing Kalama River, WA on 1/3/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. This river system is located in northern Cowlitz County and is a major tributary of the Cowlitz River. While the winter run isnt fished much at all in the big river (the tributaries are the place for that), summer steelhead are caught in moderate numbers during June and July, including off beach areas in these two counties. Fly fishing only, except use of barbed hooks is allowed. Alternate Fishing Times: 12:00AM to 12:00AM. Fishing in the fly-only water above Summers Creek requires some hiking and wading, and demands a certain level of physical fitness as the river becomes more canyon-like. Get a FREE 13 Fishing spinning reel ($30 msrp) when you buy any 3 month subscription. Not every year is a banner year for salmon and steelhead, and you'll hear reports that the glory days of fishing on the Kalama River are behind us. Salmon and steelhead runs are limited, but a modest number of fall Chinook are bagged here in the late summer. The biggest thing to finding good fishing spots is to follow the seasons and conditions and then go to the places that fit. For many non-anglers, Cowlitz County is these days perhaps best known as the gateway to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, definitely worth a visit for its stunning landscapes (including the amazing vista of the mountain itself) and museums showing the incredible devastation of the 1980 eruption and the ongoing rebirth of this area. The river is named for John Kalama, a Hawaiian employee of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and a Kanaka who made a living making containers for the . You will find the fishing report WDFW publishes weekly via creel checking both boats and bank anglers to get an idea whats going on, on the Kalama River. Calama River is an old variant name. 4 Map. There also are two runs of steelhead in the Kalama. This river mainstem, locally called the North Fork, forms the boundary with Clark County to the south. Bank Fishing The Cowlitz River. Just keep driving up the Kalama River road and find all the pullouts or parking areas with 5-6 cars in them. Early in the season, the mouth of the Kalama River is the place to be. Content Contributor Prepare for success with accurate data about the type of fish that are caugh in Kalama River, learn what baits are used, and fish smarter with weather forecasts. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Go east on Highway 12 from I-5 . Charter Boats The big bass also have seen it all, so youll have to step up your game to fool them. :help: Try the beginner hole with bobber and jig. We will send you a notification as soon as this product is available again. Its your responsibility as the recreational angler to know ALL of these rules, not just what is discussed here on the blog. Most anglers tie those below blades or flashers to attract fish attention. Gaffney's Washington fishing guide service will put fish in your Kalama River fisheries return to permanent rule. It used to be a pretty good salmon and steelhead stream but today gets a relatively small plant of fin-clipped winter steelhead smolts. It most likely will be a big rainbow. Merrill is located just north of the community of Cougar and Yale Lake. Min. Good technique and local knowledge may be your ticket to catching trout. Kokanee fishing at the reservoir, also known as Yale Lake, ramps up by about the middle of spring and continues through summer. Crappie and Perch are hanging out in the canals for the winter. True, the Kalama isnt what it used to be (what local salmon and steelhead river is?). The Kalama is predicted to get a good run of Spring Chinook which should start to show up in Late February or March. good luck! friends. Before we get there, we also suggest that after youve explored the best waters in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties, stick around for the Fishing in Neighboring Counties feature below. A small city of a few thousand people, Kalama offers a wide range of accommodations as well as shopping and dining options. Merwin is considered one of the better tiger musky fisheries in the state. If youre planning to fish the bank during peak times, try to get there early to secure a prime spot. All of that, coupled with the river's modest size and abundance of bank and boat access, makes the Kalama River a great place to wet a line. Get out and fish! Majority of the Steelhead will return between late winter and early spring. Access Info From I-5 take exit 21 (Woodland) head east on SR 503, go 1 block turn right across bridge, turn right on NW Pacific Highway, go 2.5 miles to Toenjes Road, turn right on Toenjes Road, go 0.3 miles to gate on left. You may not deliberately fish for Asian carp and must release them unharmed if you accidentally catch them. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo, VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter Street, Suite 600, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. Just about any day when there are fish to be caught you will Throughout much of the Kalama River, natural baits are often favored. Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Dr. Wolf H. Fahrenbach: The witness attributes his repeated encounters to the fact that he was out on the river most of the time, it being his livelihood. Fishing regulations; Shellfishing regulations; Places to go fishing; Fishing and stocking reports; Fishing & shellfishing basics; . The Kalama River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, tips, tricks, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! The summer fish typically come in best around June, which together with their size is why locals call them June Hogs.. There aren't many smaller rivers like Kalama where one can target spring chinook from a drift boat or the bank. Any suggested methods, tips or spots to fish the Kalama would be appreciated. The best fishing usually comes about mid-October, when the fall rains arrive in earnest and raise the river, making it possible for the coho to advance upstream. Interested in hook Chinook, coho and the other Pacific salmon species caught in Washington? All of that, coupled with the rivers modest size and abundance of bank and boat access, makes the Kalama River a great place to wet a line. Three are reserved for Chinook, whereas Coho and Sockeye see one run each, so your chances of a Salmon encounter are pretty high year-round. Of course, catches here have mirrored recent lower success rates in other Columbia tributaries, but this is a good spot to have on your radar. If youre looking for more information on how to fish for winter steelhead, checkout our page devoted to the topic. Sea-run cutthroat trout appear in the lower river during the late winter and early fall but often get second billing to the steelhead and salmon arriving with them. A good place to start is our Salmon Fishing: Simple Techniques and Tips. This summer, fish for Summer Run Steelhead Trout along the Humptulips, Wynoochee, Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers. There are places to plunk, if you are driving that far the Kalama is not that. Mayfield Lake fishing is very good for Trout. Fishing will be best above the Toutle after heavy rains. Learn More, 01/12/2023 Kalama River, Washington Fishing Report. Look for spring Chinook to start arriving in the lower river in April but catches will likely be better in May and June. It is one of the better southwestern Washington steelhead and salmon streams. that are capable of Skamania County: To the east, salmon, steelhead and more in the Columbia River and tributaries, plus some very good trout and bass lakes. Some of the biggest fish of the year are winter steelies. Terms of Use The entire stretch of the river from the Kalama Falls Hatchery down to the mouth is open to Chinook salmon fishing year-round, though only hatchery-raised fish (identifiable by their clipped adipose fins) may be kept. Locals might hate us for saying this, but Silver Lake is also the best bass lake less than a two-hour drive from the Portland-Vancouver area. The Kalama River typically has a good run of Spring Chinook each year and 2022 looks to be no different. . I have drifted it 20 or so times and know the river okay, but not from the bank. Only Hatchery Salmon and Steelhead may be retained. and float fishing and side-drifting bait between spots. Learn More, 01/13/2023 Coho salmon spawn in the Columbia Rivers tributariesthe Kalama River includedevery fall. The fall run on the North Fork is likely to be the larger return most years, with best fishing in September and October, with some catches into November. Learn More, 01/12/2023 Like most rivers in the Columbia River system, the answer seems to be few, if any., For the most part, many of the trout-sized fish you catch is more likely to be a steelhead or salmon smolt that has yet to make its way back to the ocean. The spring run is an event that local anglers look forward to all year. Also, note that Coldwater Creek and all inlet or outlet streams are strictly closed to fishing. Zoom in to map for greater detail regarding river contours and catch locations. Hatchery Winter Steelhead run in the Kalama primarily show up February through April. Ultimately, steelhead can be unpredictable, and sometimes come up to grab a dry fly when other presentations fail. Cowlitz: Is open for Hatchery Steelhead, Sea run Cutthroat and Salmon. This is a sprawling place, and a boat will definitely serve you well. Saturday morning I scouted the Grays and the Elochoman Rivers. Fly Fishing The Kalama River Washington The Kalama River is a 45-mile long tributary of the big Columbia River. The spring Chinook and summer steelhead often are the largest runs, and the ones that get the most attention from anglers. Panfish angling can be quite good here, with excellent catches of crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, bullhead catfish and other species possible starting in the spring, going through summer and into the fall. Salmon catches can be moderate when the runs are good. There also is a pretty good population of largemouth bass and a variety of panfish to keep the action going in the hotter months when trout arent available. This is one of Washingtons powerhouse salmon and steelhead tributaries, flowing past Castle Rock, Kelso and Longview on its way to the Columbia River. The first springers come into the system during March, but April, May and into June are the better months for tagging fish. WSR 22-06-029 filed on . I have drifted it 20 or so times and know the river okay, but not from the bank. Each week, the below graph will be update with the Kalama river spring Chinook escapement numbers as reported by the hatchery. Youll have to release most fish, as there is a strict one-fish per day limit and that one has to be at least 18 inches. Eklutna Tailrace. . On top of that, if the nearby Lewis River just to the south or Cowlitz River just north are still running high and muddy following a rain, the Kalama is often the best option for area anglers as it typically drops into fishing shape sooner than bigger rivers. In the old days, smelt made massive appearances in the Cowlitz during the late winter, setting off a frenzy of dipping for these silvery fish in the Kelso and Longview areas and up to Castle Rock. I was up there yesterday and there are a lot of places to fish. Go east on Highway 12 from I-5 and as you enter Salkum turn right on the Fuller Rd. Escapement numbers are a good indication of when the run is in and when it may be time to head down to the river, expecting plenty of Kalama river spring chinook to be present. This is a former bend in the Lewis River that offers excellent seasonal fishing for plentiful stocked trout (lots of rainbows and often some browns). Salmon runs are highly cyclical, so when these fish return to abundance, the Lewis will be one of the places to reliably catch them. But there are significant fall-run Chinook here too, along with a sometimes sizable coho salmon run in the fall, followed by a winter steelhead run that lasts well into spring. Kalama 217 bank anglers kept 35 Chinook and released one coho; 48 boats/125 rods kept 14 Chinook and released one Chinook. Daily limit 6. If you have any question about Kalama River Fishing please feel free to CONTACT ME . Coho salmon start to show up in the Kalama River in very late summer, and theres excellent fishing from September well into November most years. CLOSED WATERS from Modrow Bridge downstream to a set of markers approx. Located near Kalama, on Interstate 5 between Longview and Woodland, the river has some sort of salmon or steelhead run available pretty much all year long, with good numbers of hatchery fish. East Fork Lewis River Fishing. On the Kalama River, summer-run steelhead follow hot on the heels of the spring Chinook. size 12. Hoochies, Blue Fox spinners and twitching jigs all have their devotees as well, and salmon roe can be just as effective for coho as it is for Chinook and steelhead. of Kalama, WA. Silver Lake: It's Crappie time in Silver Lake! Bank anglers drift fish shrimp, roe, and the shrimp-roe combo known as the Cowlitz Cocktail. The lake also is home year-round to a collection of largemouth bass and various panfish, which tend to bite best starting in the spring as trout fishing winds down and continuing throughout summer and into early fall. While those kinds of catches arent the norm today, this is still a good place to fish. 2023. There are runs of both summer and winter steelhead in the North Fork. Natural salmon roe and shrimp are also popular baits. right off of I-5. Coho salmon are caught during the same time frame here. True, the Kalama isn't what it used to be (what local salmon . There have been a few days of open fishing in designated areas on the river. Buoy 10 to Tongue point and the Ocean area 1 Crabbing off the jetty and in the lower Columbia is excellent! More: Fishing at Silver Lake in Cowlitz County. They begin arriving in May and June, just as salmon season is winding down, and theres usually solid steelhead fishing throughout July and August. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho. Reports come back that it . McBride Lake between Ape Cave and Goat Mountain is the headwaters of the Kalama and has some brook and cutthroat trout. Kwikfish and Flatfish plugs are popular from boats, and some anglers will wrap a plug in herring to give it extra scent and flavor. . Fall anglers are likely to encounter a few Chinook salmon while fishing for coho. Tiger muskies, a sterile hybrid of a true musky and northern pike, grow to massive size and are primarily a catch-and-release fish for serious anglers. Still This is another lake formed by a debris flow from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens that has become an excellent trout-fishing destination. Date. Sturgeon are present throughout this section of the river, but fishing for them is a fairly low-numbers affair since the states turned this into largely a catch-and-release fishery. While fishing in an old gravel pit doesnt sound like an idyllic pastime, Kress Lake near Kalama might be a pleasant surprise. Horseshoe Lake: was stocked with some large Trout in December and has been stocked with surplus Steelhead. Kalama River bank fishing. My buddy is a avid steelhead and salmon fisherman from southern oregon and is staying with me for a few days. 1000 below the temporary rack, while rack is installed in the river below Modrow Bridge. Gabriel Franchere in 1811 wrote of the Indian village at the mouth of the Kalama River, adding that it was called Thlakalamah. 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