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Fishing Cowlitz River: what the data says
Blue Creek/barrier dam to Toledo; steelhead+sea-run cutthroat (counted as trout) The river tops out around 10 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Cowlitz River
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 3 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 8.8): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. A dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 2 to 10 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Steelhead fishing at Cowlitz River
In spring, steelhead run shallow here, mostly 2 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 1 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 8.8): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a orange dodger + fly high in the column or a thin spoon off boards gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Small spoon or spinner at the mouths, Jig + waxworm under float |
| Summer | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Orange dodger + fly high in the column, Thin spoon off boards |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Spinner (silver/blue), Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Float jig (black/purple), Bead rig |
Coho Salmon fishing at Cowlitz River
Spring coho salmon on Cowlitz River hold shallow, usually 1 to 10 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 8.8), a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for coho salmon in spring. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + fly or a medium spoon above the thermocline gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Small orange dodger + peanut fly, Thin spoon (orange/silver) |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + fly, Medium spoon above the thermocline |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Spinner (chartreuse) |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Small spoon, slow troll |
Chinook Salmon fishing at Cowlitz River
Start shallow in spring: chinook salmon sit in 1 to 10 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 3 to 10 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 10 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Current seam (mile 8.8): a current seam around 6 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A flasher + fly (green/white) or a magnum spoon on downrigger covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (orange/gold), Stickbait off planer boards |
| Summer | 3 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Flasher + fly (green/white), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | J-plug (glow), Flasher + fly |
| Winter | 3 to 10 ft | midday | Small spoon on a slow troll, Stickbait deep |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 0.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 5.6): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.5): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.7): creek channel, around 8 ft
- Current seam (mile 4.1): current seam, around 8 ft
- Inside bend (mile 1.6): point, around 8 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 14.4): eddy pocket, around 8 ft
- Channel swing (mile 7.2): creek channel, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 16.3): current seam, around 7 ft
- Current seam (mile 8.8): current seam, around 6 ft
- Current seam (mile 17.5): current seam, around 6 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 12.2): eddy pocket, around 6 ft
- Channel swing (mile 9.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
Common questions
How deep is Cowlitz River?
Cowlitz River is about 10 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Cowlitz River?
Anglers target rainbow trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead on Cowlitz River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Cowlitz River?
Current seam (mile 8.8) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 6 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Cowlitz River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Silver Lake · McIntosh Lake · Lake Lawrence · Clear Lake · Elbow Lake · Offutt Lake
See how Cowlitz River stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Washington · best chinook salmon lakes in Washington · best coho salmon lakes in Washington
Browse all Washington fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.