Southwest Washington (Region 5) fishing hotline

The following is a brief summary of emergency sport fishing regulations for the mainstem Columbia River and tributaries and southwest Washington lakes.  Emergency rules listed below reflect emergency changes to the respective permanent rule listed in the current 2023/2024 Washington Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet.  All other permanent rules listed in the pamphlet apply.  Including minimum size, barbless hook, night closure and anti-snagging rule. Download or view the 2023-24 fishing regulation pamphlet.  

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Salmon and Steelhead

Mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam:

  • From Megler-Astoria Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam:

    • Effective immediately through June 27, 2024: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery jack Chinook, sockeye and hatchery steelhead.
    • Effective June 28 through July 31, 2024: Daily limit 6, up to 1 steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery jack Chinook and hatchery steelhead.

Mainstem Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to Hwy. 395 Bridge at Pasco:

  • From Bonneville Dam upstream to Hwy 395 Bridge at Pasco:

    • Effective immediately through June 27, 2024: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery Chinook, sockeye and hatchery steelhead.
    • Effective June 28 through June 30, 2024: Daily limit 6, up to 2 adults may be retained of which no more than 1 may be a steelhead. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead.
    • Effective July 1 through July 31, 2024: Daily limit 6, up to 1 steelhead may be retained. Release all salmon and steelhead other than hatchery jack Chinook and hatchery steelhead.

Columbia River Tributaries below Bonneville Dam and southwest Washington lakes:

  • Cowlitz River: Immediately until further notice, the posted fishing boundary markers will be located at the 400-foot distance below the Barrier Dam.
    • Effective immediately through July 31, 2024: from the mouth to the fishing boundary signs below the Barrier Dam: Daily salmon limit is 6; of which 1 may be an adult. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook, hatchery coho.
  • Lewis River:
    • Effective immediately through July 31, 2024: From the mouth to Johnson Creek: Daily salmon limit is 6; of which 1 may be an adult. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
    • Effective immediately through July 31, 2024: From Johnson Creek to Colvin Creek: Daily salmon limit is 6 of which only 1 may be an adult. Release all salmon other than hatchery Chinook.
Columbia River Tributaries between Bonneville and McNary Dams: 
  • Klickitat River:
    • Effective immediately through July 1, 2024, from the mouth to Fisher Hill bridge, Salmon: closed.
    • Effective immediately through July 31, 2024, from 400’ upstream from Lyle Falls Fishway to boundary markers below Klickitat Salmon Hatchery, Salmon: closed. 

Tributary Weir Report:

This section will provide operational status of the resistance board weirs run in Southwest WA. Current status as of Wednesday December 20, 2023.

  • Grays River Weir - located upstream of the Highway 4 bridge ~.3 miles. Removed.
  • Elochoman River Weir - located upstream of the Foster Road bridge ~.5 miles. Removed
  • Coweeman River Weir – located at river mile 6.8 near the end of Allen Street in Kelso. Removed.
  • South Fork Toutle Weir - located ~ 0.25 mile from the mouth with the NF Toutle. Removed.
  • Green River Weir - located at the North Toutle Hatchery. Removed.
  • Kalama River Weir - located at the Modrow Trap facility. Removed.
  • Cedar Creek Weir – located 0.25 mile from the mouth with the NF Lewis. Removed.
  • Washougal River Weir - located at the Fords Game Access Site. Removed.

Sturgeon

Statewide permanent rules:

  • Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed. 
  • Sturgeon sanctuaries are in effect May 1 through August 31.
  • During a retention period: Daily limit 1 fish, annual limit 2 fish.
  • Oversize sturgeon, greater than 55” fork length, may not be removed totally or partially from the water.
  • Retention of Green Sturgeon is prohibited

Columbia River, from Buoy 10 upstream to McNary Dam:

  • Open for catch and release fishing only.

Eulachon

  • All areas: Closed to fishing and harvest. 

Additional information regarding Cowlitz River Smelt fishing can be found online at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations/smelt