There are a few fisheries you can just set block out your calendar for. I don’t care what the forecast says (I mean I kind of do), I don’t care what the chatter is, I’m making plans to fish the Columbia River spring chinook fishery each and every year.
The Kalama River can provide epic fishing for Spring Chinook when returns are decent and it’s one of the few smaller rivers available in western Washington where you can target these salmon from the bank or a drift boat reliably
Every year the Columbia River draws thousands of anglers to its banks and waterways to chase incredible numbers of salmon and steelhead. This blog post exists to provide tools you can use through the 2023 season to keep track of the runs of salmon and steelhead, monitor the forecasts and be dialed into fishing reports and in some cases detailed how-to pages.
The Cowlitz River typically has one of the best runs of Spring Chinook for any river not named the Columbia. There’s a significant amount of bank access, but jet boats and drift boats do a lot of the catching as well.
Marine Area 11 winter salmon season to open Sundays through Wednesdays only beginning Nov. 1
Action: Limits days of the week open for salmon fishing to Sunday through Wednesday each week (closed to salmon fishing Thursdays through Saturdays)
Effective dates: Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2022
Species affected: Salmon
Location: Marine Area 11 from north tip of Vashon Island to the northernmost Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Reason for action: The Marine Area 11 winter Chinook salmon fishery is scheduled to open Nov. 1, with a total encounter limit of 1,093, an unmarked encounter limit of 256, and a sublegal encounter limit of 732 Chinook salmon. A reduction in open days was agreed to by WDFW, the Puget Sound Recreational Fishery Advisors, and representatives of the Marine Area 11 community to extend the season as long as possible. The winter Chinook salmon season is scheduled to close Dec. 31.
Information contact: Fish Program, 360-902-2700
Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW “Fishing in Washington” rules pamphlet (http://maillists.dfw.wa.gov/t/836672/9401563/16/139/ )for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.