Lewis River Fishing
Located only 30 minutes from Portland, the Lewis River offers some of the better Salmon and steelhead opportunities in the region. The Lewis boasts two runs of steelhead and four runs of Salmon, providing anglers with year around opportunities and nearly six months of excellent fishing.
Lewis River Spring Chinook Salmon
Lewis River Spring Chinook Salmon enter the river in April and provide anglers with good fishing opportunities through May. I fish the section of river from Meat Hole down through the Golf Course and into the town of Woodland. Lewis River Spring Chinook tend to be decent biters and can offer clients with some great action on one of the best tasting Salmon anywhere.
Lewis River Summer Steelhead
About the time that the Spring Chinook opportunities dry up, Lewis River summer steelhead begin entering the river. Lewis River summer steelhead are great biters and fighters. We fish the Lewis a lot like we fish the Cowlitz River, by side drifting eggs and casting small spoons. Although, the Lewis River will kick out steelhead well through August, water levels get too low for my 25′ Willie Raptor, so I’ll tend to fish it through June at which time I move up to guide summer steelhead fishing trips on the Cowlitz River.
Lewis River Fall Salmon
In August, Lewis River Fall Chinook Salmon enter from the Columbia River. I spend most of my time in August down in Astoria at Buoy 10 fishing for upriver brights in the Columbia River. Water levels in August and September are often times too low to access with my sled and the upriver bright run in Astoria simply offers my clients a better quality of fish.
By late September though, water conditions have typically cooled off a bit and river levels have gone up. The end of September also corresponds with the arrival of the Lewis River Coho/Silver run. The Lewis sees two runs of Coho/Silvers. One of the runs start in September and the other in October. The October fish tend to be the better quality fish and better biters as well. I will typically alternate between the Lewis and the Colwitz River during this time of year.Both rivers have their weeks and their close proximity allows us to keep tabs on both.
For more on fishing for Cowlitz River Salmon and Steelhead, please visit my Cowlitz River Fishing page.
For any questions you might have about Lewis River fishing, or to simply book a trip, contact us on our questions and reservations page.