THE FOLLOWING FISHING REPORTS ORIGINATED WITH WDFW
Preliminary Lower Columbia River and Washington Tributary Sport Summary Sept 21-27, 2026
Mainstem Columbia River
Salmon/Steelhead
Lower Columbia River, Rocky Point/Tongue Point line upstream to Bonneville Dam — 728 salmonid boats and 117 Washington bank rods were tallied on the flight count Saturday, September 26.
Section 1 (Bonneville) — 19 bank anglers kept six Chinook and one Chinook jack. 3 boats/10 rods kept nine Chinook, five Chinook jacks, one coho, released two Chinook, seven Chinook jacks, one coho and two coho jacks.
Section 2 (Camas/Washougal) — No bank effort reported. 12 boats/29 rods kept 18 Chinook, one Chinook jack, five coho, released eight Chinook and four Chinook jacks.
Section 3 (I-5 Area) — No effort reported.
Section 4 (Vancouver) — 14 bank anglers kept one Chinook jack and one coho. 37 boats/87 rods kept 23 Chinook, 15 Chinook jacks, 16 coho, six coho jacks and released two Chinook.
Section 5 (Woodland) — Three bank anglers had no catch. 7 boats/17 rods kept six Chinook and one Chinook jack
Section 6 (Kalama) — 37 bank anglers kept five Chinook, one Chinook jack and one coho. 6 boats/12 rods kept eight Chinook, one Chinook jack and two coho.
Section 7 (Cowlitz) — No bank effort reported. 17 boats/58 rods kept 12 Chinook, five Chinook jacks, 12 coho, one coho jack and released three Chinook.
Section 8 (Longview) — Two bank anglers had no catch. 27 boats/50 rods kept seven Chinook, one Chinook jack and five coho.
Section 9 (Cathlamet) — No effort reported.
Section 10 (Cathlamet) — No bank effort reported. 4 boats/7 rods had no catch.
Columbia River Tributaries
Salmon/Steelhead
Cowlitz River (I-5 Bridge downstream) — 45 bank anglers kept one coho, released two coho and one coho jack. 9 boats/22 rods kept five coho, three coho jacks, released four Chinook, six coho and two coho jacks.
Cowlitz River (I-5 Bridge upstream) — 45 bank anglers kept two steelhead, released three Chinook and one coho.
Kalama River — 15 bank anglers kept one Chinook. 2 boats/3 rods had no catch.
Lewis River — 250 bank anglers kept four Chinook, 34 coho, five coho jacks, three steelhead, released three Chinook, two Chinook jacks, 20 coho and six coho jacks. 38 boats/81 rods kept one Chinook, one Chinook jack, 27 coho, nine coho jacks, released 46 Chinook, two Chinook jacks, 16 coho and three coho jacks.
Washougal River — No effort reported.
Wind River — No bank effort reported. 32 boats/58 rods kept 22 Chinook, 26 coho, one coho jack, released 22 Chinook and 20 coho.
Drano Lake — 28 bank anglers kept one Chinook, one Chinook jack, two coho, released two coho and nine steelhead . 55 boats/192 rods kept 113 Chinook, 24 Chinook jacks, 23 coho, released 10 Chinook and one coho.
Klickitat River (below Fisher Hill Bridge) — 49 bank anglers kept 52 Chinook, six Chinook jacks, one coho, released three Chinook and one steelhead. 1 boat/2 rods kept two Chinook.
Klickitat River (above Fisher Hill Bridge) — 15 bank anglers released two steelhead.
2026 Hanford Sport Fishery
The Hanford Reach fall salmon sport fishery is in the seventh week of the fishery. Fish counts at McNary through September 27th are at 71,607 adults and continue in decent numbers. WDFW staff interviewed anglers from 288 boats (969 anglers) with 160 adult Chinook. Based on sampling, an estimated 460 adult Chinook were harvested from 2,718 angler trips (884 boats).
Buoy 10 fishing report
From Thursday, September 24, 2026 through Sunday, September 27, 2026, Oregon creel samplers contacted 160 boats (460 anglers) for 11 Chinook (averaged 0.03 fish/rod) and 235 Coho (averaged 0.51 fish/rod) kept; and 11 Chinook and 145 Coho released.
2026 Cumulative Report through 9/27/2026:
Boats sampled to date: 5,651 boats (19,101 anglers)
Fish sampled to date: 5,610 Chinook and 9,657 Coho
Estimated angler trips: 73,360 boat and 6,445 bank
Estimated kept catch: 24,668 Chinook and 37,540 Coho
Estimated released: 21,577 Chinook and 22,657 Coho
2025 Cumulative Report through 9/27/2025:
Boats sampled: 5,350 boats (17,577 anglers)
Fish sampled: 6,395 Chinook and 6,700 Coho
Estimated angler trips: 61,420 boat and 4,310 bank
Estimated kept catch: 23,936 Chinook and 25,797 Coho
Estimated released: 16,580 Chinook and 16,949 Coho
