It’s a fishing day

Cowlitz River fishing conditions · Washington

Now until 5 pmSteelhead

The bite peaks at 82.

Log a trip here
Right now: 82 for steelhead, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Steelhead, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 821 pm
  2. 82
  3. 82
  4. 824 pm
  5. 68
  6. 68
  7. 657 pm
  8. 50
  9. 58
  10. 5810 pm
  11. 65
  12. 65Sun
  13. 681 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 654 am
  17. 65
  18. 68
  19. 687 am
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 6810 am
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 681 pm
  26. 60
  27. 58
  28. 584 pm
  29. 58
  30. 58
  31. 587 pm
  32. 58
  33. 58
  34. 5810 pm
  35. 58
  36. 58Mon
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Steelhead range 40–55°

Wind
12 mph

From the south

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:49 pm

Sky
Mostly Cloudy

2% chance of rain

Air
60°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Washington regulations for these waters.

Steelhead

Steelhead

Oncorhynchus mykiss

82Worth the tripNow until 5 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Steelhead bite in 40–55° water, best near 48°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 2–60 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Hatchery steelhead open all year: 20" minimum, 3 a day. A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Cowlitz River, Lexington Bridge to Mill Creek

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Oct–Apr. More on steelhead

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Chinook salmon bite in 42–58° water, best near 50°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Chinook salmon is here Apr–Oct. Holds 15–150 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 2 a day

Catch and release only today. Hatchery chinook Jan 1–Jul 31: 12" minimum, 6 salmon a day including no more than 2 adults. From Aug 1 only hatchery coho may be kept. A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Cowlitz River, Lexington Bridge to Mill Creek

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Oct. More on chinook salmon

Coho Salmon

Coho salmon

Oncorhynchus kisutch

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Coho salmon bite in 44–58° water, best near 53°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Coho salmon is here May–Oct. Holds 10–120 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 2 a day (Jan 1–Jul 31); 12" minimum · 3 a day (Aug 1–Dec 31)

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Hatchery coho all year: 12" minimum, 6 salmon a day including no more than 2 adults (3 adults from Aug 1). A Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement is required.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Cowlitz River, Lexington Bridge to Mill Creek

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on coho salmon

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer29.92 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:49 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow7:02 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:10 pm–12:10 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:20 am–7:20 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Washington WDFW publishes a report for the state.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

Washington's most productive hatchery river — a lower-Columbia tributary that returns big runs of spring and fall chinook, coho, and summer/winter steelhead, fished hard from the bank and by boat below Blue Creek and the salmon hatchery.

Lexington Bridge to Mill Creek: hatchery steelhead all year, 20" minimum, 3 a day. Salmon 12" minimum, 6 a day including no more than 2 adults: hatchery chinook and hatchery coho Jan 1–Jul 31, then hatchery coho only (3 adults). Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement required.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Columbia River (Astoria / Buoy 10)44 mi · WashingtonBest now until 2 pmStorm WarningHazardous Seas Warning
57Marginal
Nehalem Bay State Park66 mi · OregonBest tomorrow 11 am–1 pmStorm WarningHazardous Seas Warning
55Marginal
Twin Harbors State Park69 mi · WashingtonBest tomorrow 9 am to Monday 1 amHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning
75Worth the trip
Westport Light State Park71 mi · WashingtonBest tomorrow 10 am to Monday 1 amHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning
75Worth the trip
Ocean Shores77 mi · WashingtonBest tomorrow 8 am to Monday 1 amHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning
75Worth the trip
Pacific Beach State Park88 mi · WashingtonBest now until 2 pmHigh Surf WarningHigh Wind Warning
82Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cowlitz River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cowlitz River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Cowlitz River?

Cowlitz River is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Steelhead, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Cowlitz River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Cowlitz River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Cowlitz River have?

Cowlitz River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Lexington Bridge to Mill Creek: hatchery steelhead all year, 20" minimum, 3 a day. Salmon 12" minimum, 6 a day including no more than 2 adults: hatchery chinook and hatchery coho Jan 1–Jul 31, then hatchery coho only (3 adults). Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement required.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cowlitz River?

state agency regulations apply at Cowlitz River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Cowlitz River tidal water?

No. Cowlitz River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.