Click above to go to local fishing reports. Chinook Salmon are the largest fish caught from the Lewis River. Every year chinook over 30 pounds are caught. The spring run starts in March and reaches it's peak in May. Some chinook are still available in June. The runs are starting to build up again after reaching a low period. Fall chinook begin entering the river in September and usually finish before the end of October. Large runs of Coho Salmon enter the river in September, October and into November. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists found a wild coho salmon carcass that may have exceeded 30 pounds. Joe Hymer of the Department of Fish and Wildlife said the coho was so large it looked like a chinook. The coho had a 38-inch total length. Washington's freshwater record coho, taken from the Quinault River in 2001, weighed 25.27 pounds and was 32.28 inches total length. Photo courtesy of Jim Thuney Steelhead are in the river every month of the year. July is probably the best summer month and January is probably the best winter month. Reservoirs above the three Dams hold Kokanee and Rainbow Trout. Some years there is a strong Smelt run. Just a few smelt entered the North Fork in 2004 and they went right back out. Smelt swimming up North Fork Lewis Fishing regulations fluctuate based on how many fish are forecast and how many actually arrive. Some fishing is always available.

Coho Salmon Introduced into Swift Reservoir

On September 14, 2005 personnel from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife introduced Coho salmon into Swift Reservoir on the North Fork Lewis River.. The fish were trucked up from the lower river below Merwin Dam. This is an historic event. It is hoped the salmon will spawn in the upper river. Salmon have not been in the upper river since 1931 when Merwin Dam was built. For more pictures, click here.

Click here for cool Smelt Slide Show

Click above for more info and to see pictures of the Merwin Kids Fishing Derby.

Click above for more info and to see pictures of Merwin Special Kids Day.

Open March 1, 2005.

Click above to go to Lewis River Bed & Breakfast.

To post and read fishing reports go to Lewisriver.com Fishing Reports.
For fishing pictures go to LewisRiver.com monthy fishing pictures.
For more information go to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Call 1.800.547.1501 for updated reservoir levels and estimated river flow below Merwin.

For N. F . Lewis River flow go to River Flows At Ariel.

For East Fork Lewis River flow go to East Fork Lewis River Near Heisson, Wa.

Stream flow and reservoir levels at:
Lewis River at Woodland       Speelyai Creek      Muddy Creek
Lewis River at Ariel      Lewis River Reservoir Levels

Click below to see how many fish pass over the dams. The Fish Passage Center Click above to order your fishing and hunting licenses on-line. Click here for Kress Lake - Click here for Merrill Lake Click here for Horseshoe Lake - Click here for Klineline Ponds Click here for Coldwater Lake - Click here for Silver Lake Click here for Battle Ground Lake - Click here for Kalama River Click here for Lewisriver.com Fishing Reports Click here for monthly fishing pictures Click above to go to Fish First web site Click here for map to Lucia Falls Park. River Access Below Merwin Dam Click above for information about the river access and boat launch opportunities, provided by PacifiCorp, downstream from Merwin Dam. For the best fishing reports in other parts of the state, click Gamefishin.com. For complete information about Merwin, Yale, and Swift reservoirs, click below: Lewisriver.com Recreation Northwest River Forecast Center Check the flow for the Lewis River Basin Get the latest news and updates to area fishing regulations at the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife web site.