Fishing

Fish Are Always Biting in Cowlitz County

The Columbia River and other renowned local tributaries and lakes offer numerous opportunities for anglers. In addition, Cowlitz County is within easy driving distance of the Pacific Coast, where salmon charters are offered. The Columbia, Cowlitz, Kalama, Toutle and Lewis rivers all boast runs of salmon and steelhead. Yale, Merwin, Horseshoe, Silver, Kress and Lake Sacajawea offer lake fishing for everything from crappie, bluegill, and trout to kokanee, muskies, and bass. Fly fishermen can try their luck at alpine lakes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Kelso is known as the “Smelt Capital of the World” because of the annual migration up the Cowlitz River of a small fish known as eulachon. Every January and February people flock to the banks of the river, braving the rain and wind, to dip the silvery smelt.