Season for summer steelhead: Columbia tributaries full of Skamania stockSubscriber Exclusive

The fishing is heating up, along with the weather.

They are the steelhead of summer, and they are moving into Southwest Washington’s tributaries of the Columbia River right now.

These steelhead will give local anglers something to keep their lines tight with until the fall salmon arrive.

These runs are powered by the Skamania stock of hatchery summer steelhead, a strain that was developed from native steelhead in the Klickitat and Washougal rivers. They are a powerful fish, known for extraordinary leaps and high-powered runs.

They are also very tasty on the table.

The Skamania stock has been used for decades in most of the area’s streams, including the South Fork Toutle, Cowlitz, Kalama, North Fork Lewis, Elochoman, Klickitat, and Washougal rivers. Most of the adult steelhead will run from six to 10 pounds, with a few running up into the teens.

Cowlitz River

Dave Mallahan of Fishing with Dave Guide Service out of Toledo, is already targeting summer steelhead in the Cowlitz River.

“There’s definitely fish around,” Mallahan said. “Last Sunday we hooked seven, but only landed one. The fish were so hot, you knew you were getting bit when the line would start screaming off the reel.”

He has been bobber-dogging, which is the go-to method on the Cowlitz. Mallahan said that the method allows anglers to cover a lot of water, which is necessary on a river as large as the Cowlitz.

Salmon eggs, beads, and coon shrimp are the preferred baits at the business end.

“I have caught fish every day on all three of them,” Mallahan said.

Mallahan and other upper Cowlitz guides usually fish with sled boats, which can handle the shallow waters of summer.

They are targeting the first couple miles below Blue Creek, which is the tributary where the hatchery fish are released. The schools keg up below the creek, as they prepare to return to the hatchery.

While bobber-dogging is the best way to fish the Cowlitz from a boat, many anglers line the bank below the mouth of Blue Creek and target the steelhead with the same baits, fished below a slip-bobber. At times they also drift corkies or bait, or they toss spinners or spoons.

Mallahan said he expects the fishing to hold up well through the rest of the summer.

“I think it will hold up, and I hope it gets better,” he said. “They are catching them in the lower Columbia so some of those fish have got to be coming this way.”

He warns anglers that the river runs low in the summer, and the fish can get spooky. He said anglers have to be really careful how to approach the water, and be sure not to run the boat over the water where the fish are holding.

He also noted that high water this past winter left some flats shallower, and moved some of the larger rocks around. Anglers need to be aware and boat carefully.

Anglers are also getting some steelhead in the lower river, where other methods can be successful. Many boat anglers down there will pull plugs, and bank anglers often plunk with spin-n-glos and coon shrimp.

Mallahan expects the fishing to be productive through August.

Kalama River

This smallish river offers a more intimate fishery, and it is less crowded than the Cowlitz.

Fishing guide Trevor Torppa, the owner of Chrome City Guide Service LLC out of Longview, said his guides have been doing very well on the Kalama River for summer steelhead this past month. While the fish have been present for a while, the numbers are improving.

“They have been in the river since late May,” said Torppa, “but the bulk of the run is just starting to come in. So, they are spread throughout the river.”

The Kalama runs low during the summer, so his guides are using rafts to float the river.

“With the low water right now, there are steelhead in ones and twos through the whole river. They have been working that lower section from the Modrow Bridge down. The freshest ones are down in the lower river, so that’s been the most productive.”

He reported they work those lower holes first, and then move upriver later in the day to work for those scattered steelhead through the upper river.

“It has been good with this low water, and it is the early part of the season. So, what we have been doing is that lower float first, then going up high, just to float the whole river for those ones that are sitting in the holes. But the fresh ones are down in the lower river.”

He said the steelhead will be stretched throughout the river through August.

The low water means anglers need to be stealthy on this small river.

“I’m talking low water here, so we are really being cautious, keeping the boats off the holes where the fish are,” Torppa said. “We are getting out before we go over some of the rapids, so as not to go over the hole before we cast in there.”

In this small water, the fish are in shallower water, and can spook easily when a boat rolls over them.

For the deeper spots, his clients are running slip bobbers with bait, or beads. They also will try nightmare jigs at times.

Spinners also work, and he has his guys tossing spinners to each side as they drift through fast water.

“If you are trying to cover the whole river with a spinner as we are floating down, we take one side or another and swing it through as you are just back-trolling on that right or left side. That is definitely an option and that will pick up some of those fish if you go in the afternoon, especially after they have seen some bait.”

Lewis River

The Lewis is also seeing some stronger returns of steelhead, and an increase in pressure. Torppa said he has heard reports that the mid-sized river is fishing better.

“We have stayed out of the Lewis, just because of how good the Kalama is. But I’m sure it is picking up,” he said. “Right about now is when all those rivers light up.”

It does offer a different approach then the Cowlitz or the Kalama. There is only so much water that lends itself to bobber-dogging.

Baits such as coon shrimp or beads will work below a bobber, but other techniques, such as pulling plugs and drifting, can be used to take the fish as well.

“You can anchor up and have your guys make drifts through those big, deep holes,” Torppa said. “It’s sort of a big boat thing cause it’s a bigger river.”

Once anchored, anglers can drift baits through the hole. He said spinners also work in these situations. You can also pull plugs such as a Yakima Bait Maglip in 3.5 wrapped with coon shrimp. That can really be effective on the Lewis.

Right now, most of the steelhead will be holding in water below the hatchery. Boat anglers are floating the first few miles below the hatchery, and the bank anglers often gather below the hatchery trap deadline.

In August many of these fish will move upriver. They often gather below the Merwin Dam, and the pools just below the deadline can be very good.

These fish of summer will be around for a while, but they are easier to hook when they are fresh. So, if you can get out soon, that’s better.

But they will still be waiting in August if you go later. Check the regulations before you fish.