Rivers and Streams

The Cowlitz River is producing a lot of summer run steelhead, but you have to put in the time and be willing to try different methods to catch them. The water levels are variable from one day or even hour to the next.

Boat fishermen are having a lot of luck with a diver and coon shrimp, or free drifting with eggs, shrimp and eggs, corky and yarn or jig and a bobber for the bank fishermen. The usual stuff, said Karen Glaser, from Barrier Dam Campground.

The steelhead must be really moving, said Charles McElroy, sporting goods clerk at Sunbird Shopping Center, cuz theyre tired out by the time you hook into em.

The springer fishing is still productive, said Tracy Borsom of Fish Country Inc. in Ethel. However, some of the fish are getting a little darker now. Lots of fish throughout the river though.

The Green River is receiving a lot of pressure, but the fish haul is meager, at best.

The Chehalis River below Centralia is putting out smallmouth bass in good numbers, according to McElroy.

Lakes and Ponds

An 18-pound channel cat was caught out of Swofford Pond this week. It seems the catfish bite is on.

Offut Lake is still fishing well, although the trout are a little deeper now that the water has started to warm up a bit.

Riffe Lake is spotty and the fish are scattered, according to some reports.

Borsom said shes heard different.

Riffe Lake is now at full level and the fish are biting, she said. Weve heard mostly near the Mossyrock Dam worms, cocktail shrimp, super dupers, maggots and other hardware is all working.

Many of the high lakes, including Walupt Lake, are open and the fishing is good, but the water is high.

Mayfield Lake is not doing too badly, though the best luck seems to be near the Tilton arm.

Try some power eggs and worms off the bottom near the hatchery, said Borsom. The boaters are still using wedding rings tipped with worm or corn.

Hayes Lake in Centralia is covered in weeds, but Plummer Lake is still fishing well.

American Lake is still offering easy limits of kokanee, though they are down at about 25 to 30 feet, and Merwin is still good for kokanee also.

On the Beach and Ocean

Crabbing is still going strong.

Westport is producing king salmon in great numbers, but youll have to go deep to find them. Theyre at about 180 feet deep, said McElroy.

The water is supposed to lay down this week, its been pretty rough (on the ocean), McElroy said. Theyve been getting their limits, but theyve been getting pretty beat up trying to get them.

The first tuna have started to come in at Ilwaco and Westport 20 to 30 pounders.

The pink salmon are starting to show at Seiku, about two weeks ahead of schedule.

Bottom fishing out of Westport is just outta sight, according to McElroy.