Washington fishing reports
185 reports for Washington — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Spring Chinook Window Advancing as Hoh and Bogachiel Hold Moderate May Flows
USGS gauges recorded the Hoh River at 1,260 cfs (gauge 12041200) and the Bogachiel River at 854 cfs (gauge 12035000) on the evening of May 16 — moderate late-spring levels that leave both Olympic Peninsula systems accessible as flows transition away from peak freshet. No water temperature readings were available from either gauge. Angler-intel feeds this cycle returned no Olympic Peninsula-specific reports; no charter dispatches, tackle-shop posts, or creel summaries for the Hoh or Bogachiel appeared in available sources. Based on typical mid-May patterns for the region, late spring Chinook salmon are the primary target on hatchery-supported reaches, with sea-run cutthroat available as a year-round secondary option in the lower river systems. Winter steelhead opportunity has largely wound down for the season; summer steelhead builds slowly through June. Conditions appear fishable at current flows, though clarity and holding-water quality will depend on recent precipitation in the Olympic Mountains headwaters. Verify current WA regulations and per-river hatchery retention rules before launching.
Spring Chinook and halibut season opens along WA coast; offshore swells a factor
NOAA buoy 46087 logged 9.5-foot wave heights off the Washington Pacific coast early Sunday, with both coastal buoys recording winds near 14–15 mph and air temperatures around 50°F — conditions that will dictate whether offshore skippers can make their runs this weekend. Water temperature readings were unavailable from either buoy at press time. Angler-specific bite reports for Puget Sound and the Pacific coast were sparse in current feeds; WA WDFW's fishing reports page is the go-to source for real-time creel data and emergency rule updates. On the ecological side, WA Sea Grant's Crab Team documented Pacific tomcod in Grays Harbor monitoring traps, a signal of healthy and diverse forage in the coastal estuary system. With the New Moon falling this weekend and mid-May historically marking the ramp-up of Puget Sound Chinook and coastal Pacific halibut action, anglers who can wait out the swell and time a calmer weather window stand to find some of the year's best opportunities.
Spring Chinook push on Columbia tributaries as mid-May temps settle in
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 52°F water temperatures and 1,280 cfs on the evening of May 16 — readings that place Columbia basin tributaries squarely in the prime spring Chinook window. At 52°F, salmon are moving actively upriver and feeding lies along main-stem current seams should be productive. The New Moon phase this weekend typically improves low-light feeding activity for salmon holding in off-color water. No specific catch data from local tackle shops or charter operations came through in this reporting cycle, and WA WDFW Fishing Reports did not carry species-specific harvest numbers in the current feed. Anglers should check WA WDFW current regulations before targeting Chinook, as tributary-specific retention windows can shift week to week during spring. Flow at 1,280 cfs is moderate and suggests manageable wading conditions on smaller river systems, though snowmelt variability remains a factor on higher-elevation drainages through late May.
Yakima trout action peaks as Eastern WA enters prime late-spring window
USGS gauge 12484500 recorded the Yakima River flowing at 1,990 cfs on the evening of May 12 — moderate spring flow consistent with late snowmelt conditions on the eastern slopes. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms the department actively monitors angling conditions and continues stocking programs across the region throughout spring. With the waning crescent moon and lengthening days, rainbow trout on the upper Yakima are typically at their most active in mid-May as water temperatures begin a sustained climb from winter lows. Nymph patterns and early dry-fly opportunities tend to open up during this transition window as hatches start firing in earnest. Smallmouth bass in Spokane-area lakes and reservoirs should be moving toward pre-spawn staging areas near rocky structure. Angler intel specific to this stretch was limited this cycle, but seasonal patterns suggest this is one of the more productive freshwater windows of the year across Eastern Washington.
Spring Chinook season peaks as Olympic Peninsula rivers drop to fishable range
Both Olympic Peninsula rivers in our monitoring network are running at moderate late-spring levels. USGS gauge 12041200 logged 1,030 cfs as of May 12, and USGS gauge 12035000 recorded 697 cfs — both within the accessible range that allows drift boats and wading anglers to work the water effectively. No water temperature readings were available from either gauge at the time of this report. WA WDFW Fishing Reports did not return specific creel or catch data for these drainages in the current pull, leaving the on-the-water bite unconfirmed by a direct source. That said, mid-May falls squarely in the traditional spring Chinook window on the Olympic Peninsula, with fresh kings typically pushing into lower river reaches as snowmelt tapers. Flows at these levels favor side-channel and back-eddy presentations. A waning crescent moon phase may soften bite windows slightly this week. Anglers should verify current openings and any emergency closures with WDFW before launching — spring Chinook regulations can shift on short notice.
Spring Chinook Push Builds Along WA Coast and Sound
NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 recorded offshore swells of 3.9 ft and 3.0 ft respectively along Washington's Pacific coast early on May 13 — a moderate sea state that puts most larger vessels within working range when winds cooperate. Direct angler-specific intel for Puget Sound and Washington's outer coast is thin this reporting cycle; WA WDFW's statewide fishing portal did not return targeted saltwater condition updates for this period. The clearest regional salmon signal comes from Saltwater Sportsman, whose recent report from the Columbia River mouth at Buoy 10 documents active chinook and coho feeding in those boundary waters — a strong indicator that the broader spring migration is tracking through coastal Washington. Mid-May is historically Washington's prime window for spring Chinook in both the Sound and the ocean fishery. Verify current WDFW quotas and area-specific emergency rules before targeting salmon or halibut, as limits can shift week to week.
Spring Chinook push peaks on the Columbia as May temps climb
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded 59°F and 1,310 cfs on the evening of May 12 — water temps now squarely in the range that typically moves spring chinook through Columbia system tributaries and positions smallmouth bass on or near spawning beds. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms ongoing statewide stocking efforts, though no specific conditions updates for the Columbia or Puget Sound tributary systems were available in this cycle's feed. With angler-report coverage limited, we're working primarily from gauge data and seasonal patterns: spring chinook are actively moving, stocked trout are feeding well in 59°F water, and smallmouth in warmer side-channel sloughs may already be staging. The Waning Crescent moon this week compresses feeding into low-light windows — plan early sessions to catch the dawn bite. Check current WA WDFW regulations before targeting spring chinook, as retention rules vary significantly by drainage and date.
Yakima-area flows running high as Eastern WA trout and bass season heats up
Flow at USGS gauge 12484500 is clocking 2,040 cfs as of May 12 — elevated spring levels driven by snowmelt that push regional rivers turbid and fast. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active stocking operations continuing statewide, making planted-trout lakes in the Spokane and Yakima corridors a productive alternative while rivers run off-color. No water temperature reading is available from current gauge instrumentation. River anglers should work slack pockets and eddy seams rather than mid-current, where high velocity makes presentation difficult. Tactical Bassin's early-May content identifies this week as the critical post-spawn transition for bass — fish are staging predictably between shallow spawning flats and first deeper breaks, making it one of the more consistent windows of the year for largemouth and smallmouth. Walleye in regional impoundments typically remain active through this stretch as surface temperatures climb toward summer.
Olympic Peninsula Rivers in Fishable Shape as Steelhead Transition Begins
USGS gauge 12041200 recorded 1,090 cfs and USGS gauge 12035000 read 691 cfs on the morning of May 12, putting Olympic Peninsula salmon rivers at moderate, fishable spring levels. No water temperature data was available from either gauge. The WA WDFW Fishing Reports portal covers statewide conditions, though no specific Olympic Peninsula river updates were included in the current data pull. At these flow levels — elevated by late-spring snowmelt but not blown out — holding water in deep pools and seam edges typically produces the best opportunities for summer steelhead, which begin entering some Peninsula rivers in May ahead of peak season. Sea-run cutthroat and bull trout remain resident options year-round. Angler intel specific to these rivers was limited in this cycle; conditions described here reflect gauge data and typical mid-May patterns for the region. Check WA WDFW Fishing Reports and local tackle shops before heading out for the most current on-water intelligence.
Spring Chinook and halibut season heats up on WA's Pacific coast
NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 off the Washington coast logged light to moderate winds — 2 and 6 m/s respectively — on May 12, with air temps in the cool 54–56°F range typical of a Pacific Northwest spring. Water temperature and wave height data were unavailable from today's sensor reads. For salmon context, Saltwater Sportsman recently featured a captain's report from Buoy 10 at the Columbia River mouth — just south of the Washington line — where chinook and coho were described as prime ocean-conditioned fish putting up powerful fights. WA WDFW continues its statewide angler-interview monitoring program. With no WA-specific charter or shop reports arriving in today's feeds, assessments for Puget Sound and the Pacific coast lean on seasonal norms: mid-May is historically the heart of spring Chinook troll season and a strong window for Pacific halibut on offshore banks. Confirm open areas and emergency rules with WDFW before launching.
Spring Chinook window opens on the Columbia as May flows run clear
USGS gauge 14113000 logged the Columbia drainage at 52°F and 1,330 cfs on the morning of May 12 — mid-spring conditions that historically align with active spring Chinook migration through Washington's Columbia system. WA WDFW Fishing Reports monitors statewide angler activity, but no current-cycle catch data was available in this feed; the picture below is anchored to gauge readings and established regional seasonal benchmarks. At 52°F, water temperatures sit squarely in the range that keeps spring Chinook moving through defined current seams and tailouts. Moderate flows suggest fish are not scattered by high, off-color conditions — a positive sign for presentation-oriented techniques like back-trolled plugs and drift-fished bait. Puget Sound tributary anglers targeting cutthroat and resident trout are entering the late-spring transition, with fish likely beginning to shift toward shaded lies and deeper summer haunts as surface temps edge through the mid-50s.
Yakima flows steady as trout, bass, and walleye hit mid-May stride
USGS gauge 12484500 logged 2,120 cfs on the Yakima River in the early hours of May 12 — elevated snowmelt-driven flows typical for this time of year that push trout into slower eddies, side channels, and foam lines. No water temperature reading was available from the gauge, but mid-May Eastern WA conditions historically sit in the upper 40s to low-to-mid 50s°F, a sweet spot for sustained trout feeding. WA WDFW Fishing Reports notes ongoing fish-stocking activity statewide through spring, bolstering rainbow trout opportunity across the region's reservoirs and smaller stillwaters. Bass are entering the post-spawn transition: Wired 2 Fish reports warming temperatures are pushing largemouth shallow and calls it "some of the best fishing of the year," while Tactical Bassin highlights topwater frogs, swimbaits, and a finesse Karashi rig as go-to presentations for this transitional window. Fly anglers targeting the Yakima should watch for caddis activity — MidCurrent's current piece on caddis emergences notes these hatches are a cornerstone of May trout fishing on Western rivers.