The Columbia River is open to the retention of hatchery coho salmon and hatchery steelhead from Buoy 10 up to the Bonneville Dam. Only one steelhead may be retained as part of a two-fish limit. Chinook retention is closed.
Fishing for salmon or steelhead from Bonneville Dam to the Hwy 395 Bridge in Pasco is closed for the year.
White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 at the mouth of the Columbia upstream to McNary Dam but remains an option for catch-and-release fishing.
A few late run coho are available in the Cowlitz and Kalama Rivers, although harvest has been restricted. Check the regulations before fishing.
Trout stockings for the year have begun in local lowland lakes.
Warm water fisheries have slowed, although some crappie are being caught at Silver Lake. (WDFW)
Salmon/Steelhead
Mainstem Columbia
The salmonid creel program on the lower Columbia has ended for the year and will resume February of 2020.
Columbia Tributaries
Regulation Updates
• Cowlitz River, from the mouth to the posted markers 400 feet below the Barrier Dam: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six. Up to one adult may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery coho.
• Kalama River, from the mouth to 1,000 feet below the fishway at the upper salmon hatchery (i.e. Kalama Falls Hatchery): Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six. Up to three adults may be retained of which up to one may be an adult coho. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho.
• Lewis River, from the mouth to the overhead power lines below Merwin Dam: 12-inch minimum size. Daily limit six. Up to two adult Chinook may be retained. Release all salmon other than Chinook and hatchery jack coho.
• Cedar Creek, from the mouth upstream, including all tributaries: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six. Up to two adult Chinook may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery jack coho.
• Washougal River, from the mouth to the bridge at Salmon Falls: Minimum size 12 inches. Daily limit six. Up to one adult Chinook may be retained. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery jack coho. (WDFW)
Fishery reports
Elochoman River — 1 bank angler had no catch.
Cowlitz River — I-5 Br downstream – 13 bank rods released one Chinook. 4 boats/16 rods kept six coho.
Kalama River — 6 bank anglers had no catch.
Black Friday Trout
Fishing was fair to good in lakes stocked prior to Black Friday. Buzz Ramsey of Yakima Bait reported that high winds and cold conditions made for a slower than usual Black Friday fishery on Rowland Lake, although both bank anglers and boaters did find some fish.
The fishing was better at Klineline Pond and Battle Ground Lake, according to Stacie Kelsie of the WDFW Inland Fishes Program.
Each lake was stocked with about 2,000 rainbow trout at about 0.8 per pound prior to the event. Fishing should continue to be good in the coming weeks. (WDFW)
Recent catchable trout plants
Lacamas Lake, (Clark): Planted with 6,000 rainbows at 2.6 per pound on November 25.
Spearfish Lake, (Klickitat): Planted with 20 extra-large rainbows at 0.2 per pound on November 20.
Sturgeon
No report
Walleye
No report (WDFW)
