WSFR Rivers Reports (Lewis) - http://www.nwfishing.com

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	Lewis River, main stem: The main stem produces spring and fall chinook and coho salmon, summer and winter steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat. A popular and crowded spring chinook fishery has typically taken place near the mouth from mid-March through May. Special spring chinook regulations are in effect this year: Effective April 1 through July, there is a daily limit of one salmon over 12 inches from the mouth upstream to the utility lines just above the upstream end of Eagle Island (on the North Fork). Late summer and fall months bring lots of interest in fall chinook, coho and steelhead, but be sure to check for possible restrictions to protect depressed runs of fish (especially fall chinook). Check with WDFW's Battle Ground or Vancouver office (phone numbers listed on the inside front cover) for more information. Wild steelhead and wild cutthroat must be released. Some bank access is available along the dike area. There are several public and private boat launches along the lower Lewis, including a WDFW launch on the dike just below the confluence of the East and North Forks. Lewis River, North Fork: The North Fork Lewis provides year-round fishing for coho and both spring and fall chinook salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout, with lots of bank and boat access. Special spring chinook regulations are in effect this year: Effective April 1 through July 31, it is unlawful to take, fish for or possess salmon in the area downstream from Merwin Dam to the utility lines just upstream from the top of Eagle Island (just below the golf course). The area from Johnson Creek upstream to Colvin Creek is closed to all angling between April 1 and June 15. Be sure to check the latest regulations and emergency closures to protect depressed runs of fish. Check with WDFW's office in Battle Ground or Vancouver (phone numbers listed on the inside front cover) for more information. Mid-April to early June are best for spring chinook; mid-August through late September are good months for fall chinook. Coho are in from August through December; there are both early and late coho in the North Fork. Popular and productive spots are near the salmon hatchery and Cedar Creek Hole; both can be extremely crowded. All wild steelhead and cutthroat must be released. Lewis River, East Fork: The East Fork Lewis produces small numbers of fall chinook and coho salmon, with better fishing for summer and winter steelhead. Be sure to check the latest regulations and emergency closures to protect depressed runs of fish. Check with WDFW's Columbia River Office in Battle Ground (360) 576-6073 or the Region 5 Office in Vancouver (360) 696-6211 for more information. Wild steelhead must be released. Both boat and bank angling are available. Noel Johnson's page devoted to the Lewis River

	June 3, 2001 Thanks to: Jeff L. Launched at the salmon hatchery at about 8. Drifted through some good water without getting a hit. However, about 500 yards downstream from Colvin Creek, we caught a 15 lb. Springer on sandshrimp and a jet diver. It was a beautiful fish, fresh from the ocean. We didn't get another hit the rest of the time. NF - Dec. 3, 2000 Thanks to: Matt Malicoat Me, my dad, and a freind of mine arrived at the Cedar Creek ramp at about 7:00 am. We put in and ran to a hole where we have had excellent luck casting wiggle warts during this year's silver run. The weekend before we hooked 9 fish and I figured that it would be less this time but I was proved wrong. During 5 hours of fishing the three of us hooked 24 silvers (not in very good shape). My dad even hooked a fish in the 19-21 pound range on a green pirate hotshot. We didn't keep any fish do to their semi-dark color but it was still alot of fun and the most salmon I ever caught in one trip. There is something about a casted plug reeled fast upstream that just bugs the hell out of those fish. EF - Dec. 1, 2000 Thanks to: Micah Fransen 5 casts just below the boat ramp at Lewisville (using #5 Blue Fox spinner) and wham...8-lb. buck...He was a nice fish..Corkies and yarn provided no action. Nov. 16, 2000 Thanks to: Tj Barclay It was a Clear, cold blue bird day. The river is low and clear. There were lots of coho's in every pool from the Salmon Hatchery down stream. We floated from the hatchery down to the golf course. Hooked 4 and landed 3. Caught two fish on eggs and one on a wiggle wart. There were a fair amount of guys fishing at the Hatchery, both boats and on the bank. July 5, 2000 Thanks to: Ed Mendoza Tried drifting for Steelies with sand-shrimp but not a strike. My buddy was fishing by the buoy markers and landed a nice rainbow using a green corky with a worm on the hook. I dropped by his side and used a Kastmaster. On my first cast I reeled in slowly and BAM - hooked into a nice 8-inch rainbow. I loved the action using only 4 pound test. Two casts later and POW - I was into another 10 inch rainbow. Action kinda died down after that. I was about to hang it up when I decided to throw out one last cast. This time I let the lure sink to the bottom. After tumbling along bottom for awhile, I jerked the lure and started to flick the rod as I reeled it in. WHAM - the tip of my pole goes straight down as my arm jerks up just about ripping the lips off this fish. It was a good fight that lasted about ten minutes. The fight made me think this fish was at least a 3 or 4 pound rainbow, but when I brought it in it was a 14 inch Steelie. Man can those buggers fight!! I was sorry to let it go since it was my first one ever. Next time I'll be ready for his Big Brother North Fork - July 1, 2000 Thanks to: jeff heafner Today was great, couldn't keep the steelies off my line. Caught 3 old springers, and over limited on steelies. All in all it was good... June 12, 2000 Thanks to: Noel Johnson All fishing wiped out for the next few days because of high water. All the reservoirs are full and a lot of water is coming down the river. http://lewisriver.com May 25, 2000 Thanks to: Noel Johnson There has been no action on the lower river by Woodland. Here is the WDFW report: Lewis Twenty-eight boaters with two adult chinook, two jack chinook and three steelhead kept plus one steelhead released. Through May 22, 449 spring chinook had return to the hatcheries. Streamflow is about 5,800 cubic feet per second. (WDFW) Merwin Reservoir Seventy-nine boaters with 77 kokanee, three cutthroat trout, six landlocked coho and nine landlocked chinook kept plus two coho and seven kokanee released. (WDFW) For more info on the Lewis, http://lewisriver.com North Fork - Mar. 26, 2000 Thanks to: Noel Johnson Alright! I caught a beautiful 13 pound spring Chinook off our river bank Sunday morning at 9:30 a. m. Used orange and while spin-n-glo. These chinook are the best eating salmon http://lewisriver.com Feb. 7, 2000 Thanks to: Noel Johnson There are a few boats going up and down the lower river but they don't seem to be catching any fish. I haven't been up to Cedar creek hole for awhile. Hope to make it soon. Noel from http://lewisriver.com N. Fork - Dec. 20, 1999 Thanks to: Noel Johnson The North Fork Lewis River from Colvin Creek upstream to the overhead powerlines below Merwin Dam is open to fishing for trout and steelhead. This area will open to fishing for hatchery coho January 1, 2000. The entire Lewis River, including North Fork, will remain closed to chinook retention through January 31, 2000. Effective January 1, 2000, the Lewis River (including North Fork) salmon daily limit reverts to 6 fish, no more than 2 adults The river has been too high but could be right for fishing in the next couple days. Steelhead have arrived at the hatchery. N. Fork - Nov. 21, 1999 Thanks to: Noel Johnson There are less and less boats at the hatchery hole each day lately. The only boat that went by here today, on the lower river by Woodland, was the sheriff's patrol. Steelhead should be showing up around Thanksgiving. Sept. 19, 1999 Thanks to: DISHAUN BERRY Started fishing around 6:00pm. I was on the hatchery side below the second water outlet in the meat hole. I was using salmon eggs and sandshrimp. I caught 2 silvers and hooked into a 25 pound chinook, but that was the one that got away. North Fork - Aug. 30, 1999 Thanks to: Todd Buzalsky Silvers starting to show although they are tight lipped, caught 2 jacks on eggs after flailing away for 6 hours. The spot I was at you could watch the fish swim right by your feet but they seemed more interested in my pencil lead as I was jigging it by the bank, tried jigs, spinners bait no bait etc...Oh well maybe next time. Aug. 22, 1999 Thanks to: Milton Givens I launched my drift boat about 7:30 am fishing with my good friend Dave. We were pulling bait divers with sand shrimp on an eight foot leader with small spin glows. Although the first slot looked almost perfect, we didn't touch a fish. At about 10:00 am we we set out our lines at the top of one of my favorite slots and began to pull our baits into the structure that seems to hold fish when the water is at this level. After about 3 minutes we had a hard takedown, but no hook-up. Then 5 or so minutes later we hooked into a nice 9 pound hatchery hen that got plenty of air and was a shiney as a new silver dollar. I rowed back up to the top and we began working the same slot again. Just a few feet lower into the slot than where we hook the first fish, we set the hook into a monster chrome bright steelhead. This fish ran at us and about the time we got the other rod into the boat and pulled anchor in order to get to the shallower water he came up and spit the hook. We both figure that that fish might have pushed 20 pounds, but there is no way to be sure as it was the one that got away. Continued fishing until about noon and went home to avoid the heat, both wishing the day was Saturday instead of Sunday as we won't be able to get back there until next weekend. North Fork - July 15, 1999 Thanks to: Travis Burnett I was fishing from the hatchery down stream to Happa launch. I was using a pink corky and light pink yarn with prawn tails. I got a small chinook and there were a few steelhead being caught. Well for all the Lewis River fisherman out there, I'm teling you that you should got out there and give a try! May 15, 1999 Thanks to: Michael My brother came to visit from Ohio, Saturday I woke him up at 3:30AM and drove to the Lewis River. Only saw one caught, about 30 feet from where we were, nice 15 to 20 pounder. Everyone we talked to said it'd been slow. Left there at noon and hit the Cowlitz, fished till 4:00PM with no luck. Talked to a game warden and she said the only place doing any good was the mouth on the Lewis, take was about 5 a day. At least he got to see one nice fish caught! Where are all the fish? May 14, 1999 Thanks to: Tim Fagan First time on river, found myself standing across hatchery plunking away. Beautiful water, sunny day. Arrived around 10am. Good sign to see 20-lb. plus bright being landed on the bank. Took time to set up and watch as others leaving with their limit. Apr. 15, 1999 Thanks to: Jim Smith I Nailed a 23-lb. Chinook at the hatchery hole on the Lewis River. My sons and I were drifting corkies only, no yarn. To make it ever so exciting, this one was off the bank. 20 minutes of tug-o-war on 15-lb. line and I was rewarded! Apr. 4, 1999 Thanks to: Tony Greer Had a beautiful afternoon on the Lewis today. My 3-1/2 year old son and I saw an eagle, thousands of geese, 7 boats, and zero salmon. Maybe next time. North Fork - Nov. 26, 1998 Thanks to: Rod Nims My boy and I decided to go fishing on Thanksgiving morning despite losing 3rd & 4th gear in my tranny we had a fairly productive day. After watching several yahoos casting half way across the river we decided to fish close to the bank after about an hour my boy hooked and lost a nice silver. I then was surprised when a fish was tugging on my line much to my surprise there was a chrome bright steelhead fighting me it turned to be a nice bright hen with sea lice still on her sides we were using store bought eggs and corkies just below the corkline at the fish ladder . Two days later I returned to catch another steelhead, this one was a 10-pound buck using the same tactics as before. I forgot to mention that this is at the hatchery. The water was a little on the high side. Newcomers to this fishing hole-don't be another pathetic sheep in the herd and cast half way across the river like the rest of the goons-try short casting as the river level rises the fish seem to hug the bank. December 21, 1997 Thanks to CStev10454@aol.com for the following report: Started the day out of the golf course ramp. The day was foggy, and cold used traditional methods, such as boondogging, backtrolling both plugs and diver/bait combo's. Even used a new bait (rubber worms) didn't touch a fish. Fished big bend, golf course, and johnson creek and the lower end of the happa crusher. It's a good thing I like to fish cause the catching has been slow on the Lewis. I talked to four other boats and a guy fishing on a jet ski today no one was doing any good. YOU CAN BET I WILL NOT GIVE UP !!!!!! December 16, 1997 Thanks to CStev10454@aol.com for the following report: Fished the North Fork from 9am till 2:30 pm put in at the golf course, tried the Island ramp, but someone had a van park on the ramp blocking access. (enough complaining). I fished by myself using boondogging, backtrolling plugs, and divers and bait. Not one fish hooked, and we don't count takedowns. The fish should be there, I will try next week again. East Fork Lewis River - December 15, 1997 Thanks to Bob Smo for the following report: Not many winter run fish yet, a few chinook. I have not seen any coho's yet. June 7, 1997 Thanks to Brian "The Dogger" Knoll for the following report: We fished the Lewis from the Hatchery Hole on down. There were a few Springers being caught and an occasional steelhead. I was able to land a nice bright 10 lb. hatchery steelhead. The steelhead fishing should continue to improve over the next month. May 7th and 8th, 1997 Thanks to Rod Bush for the following report: Fished May 7th and 8th on the Lewis river and we caught one each day the first 20 and the next day a 18 pounder. The river is high and only has about a foot and a half of visibility. Stopped by the hatchery and they said they have only gotten twenty four total into both hatcheries so far. No one else had caught fish that we ran into. (Rod Bush) River Otter Guide Service (206)399-7145 or rvrotter@gte.net http://www.greatnw.com/riverotter March 29, 1997 Thanks to Jeff Whitehead at jeffhead@olywa.net for the following report: Went to the mouth of the Lewis this last Saturday. The river was pretty high with about 1 1/2 feet of visibility. Threw everything in the tackle box at em', (Kwikfish, spinners, rouge river bait rigs, whole herring, cut plug herring) trolled, hog lined, trolled some more and nary a nudge. There were about 15 other boats out, didn't see one fish caught. We were there from daybreak til 3:00 PM. Will try again in about two weeks.