Washington fishing reports
191 reports for Washington — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Spring Chinook and halibut season building across Puget Sound and WA Pacific
NOAA buoy 46041, positioned off Washington's outer coast, logged winds of 7 m/s and air temperatures near 52°F this morning — manageable spring conditions for Sound runs and coastal bar crossings. Buoy 46087, near the Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance, showed similar readings at 6 m/s and 51°F; water temperature was unavailable from both stations. No specific catch reports for Washington's Puget Sound or Pacific zones appeared in today's angler-intel feed; WA WDFW Fishing Reports is the go-to source for current creel data and stocking updates. Seasonally, mid-May is a recognized prime window for spring Chinook moving through Puget Sound sub-areas, with Pacific halibut season drawing significant effort to offshore grounds. Lingcod and rockfish complete the spring bottom-fishing picture. The New Moon phase this week intensifies tidal exchanges — plan salmon and halibut windows around peak current changes and verify current WDFW Emergency Rules before heading out.
Spring Chinook window peaks across Columbia system tributaries
USGS gauge 14113000 recorded water at 53°F and 1,240 cfs on May 18 — conditions sitting squarely in the prime temperature band for spring Chinook salmon migrating through Columbia system tributaries. WA WDFW Fishing Reports maintains statewide creel and stocking data but no targeted weekly field intel surfaced in this update cycle, so the assessment leans on gauge readings and mid-May seasonal patterns. At 53°F, trout and late-run steelhead are also feeding actively, and the cool water keeps migrating Chinook holding longer in deep runs rather than racing through. New Moon conditions on May 18 typically compress feeding windows into low-light periods — dawn and dusk transitions are worth prioritizing. On the Columbia mainstem, smallmouth bass are likely finishing the spawn or transitioning to post-spawn mode at these water temperatures, staging near rocky points and current seams. Always confirm current retention rules with WA WDFW before targeting spring Chinook, as seasons carry strict punch-card and wild-fish-retention restrictions.
Spring Chinook and Halibut Poised as New Moon Tides Peak Over Puget Sound
NOAA buoy 46087 recorded a 4 m/s breeze and 51°F air on May 17 over the outer coast, while buoy 46041 showed a stiffer 8 m/s offshore at 53°F — workable Pacific conditions for this time of year. Water temperature data was unavailable from both stations this cycle; mid-May typically sees Puget Sound surface temps climbing toward the low-to-mid 50s°F, so anglers should confirm depth before committing. Tonight's New Moon drives the month's strongest tidal exchanges, concentrating baitfish on current seams and structure edges — the single biggest timing variable for Sound fishing this week. WA WDFW Fishing Reports is the authoritative weekly source for creel data and hatchery stocking updates; specific bite reports were sparse in this data cycle. The seasonal alignment of New Moon tidal energy and mid-May baitfish migration both point toward a productive window for chinook, halibut, and lingcod across Puget Sound and the Pacific coast.
Spring Chinook window opens in Columbia tributaries as temps climb toward prime
USGS gauge 14113000 logged 54°F water and 1,260 cfs flow on May 17 — readings that place Washington's Columbia River tributaries squarely in the opening stretch of the prime spring Chinook window. WA WDFW Fishing Reports confirms active statewide monitoring and hatchery stocking operations, though specific catch counts from this gauge reach were not available in this cycle. At 54°F, springers typically settle into tailouts and deeper seams; a drifted roe cluster or swung egg-pattern fly are go-to presentations at this temperature band. Smallmouth bass in the Columbia mainstem are entering a pre-spawn transition, moving from wintering holes toward rocky structure as water edges through the mid-50s. Resident rainbow and cutthroat trout benefit from the same stable conditions, with stocked fish accessible in smaller tributaries throughout the drainage. Tonight's New Moon removes lunar brightness from the equation, tending to favor natural-profile presentations during the low-light dawn and dusk windows that typically drive the best freshwater bites this time of year.
Spring Chinook and Halibut in Play as WA Coastal Season Builds
NOAA buoys 46041 and 46087 are registering light winds of 3–4 m/s and cool air temperatures between 46–50°F along the WA coast as of May 17, though water temperature sensors returned no readings from either station this cycle. WA Sea Grant's Crab Team field program in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay continues through spring 2026, with estuarine monitoring active in areas that overlap coastal salmon staging grounds. No direct charter, tackle-shop, or creel-survey reports for Puget Sound or the outer Pacific coast appeared in this data pull. Based on typical mid-May patterns for this region, spring Chinook are the headliner across multiple Puget Sound marine areas, Pacific halibut draw serious attention from inland straits and offshore banks, and lingcod hold on nearshore reef structure. Anglers should confirm current WDFW area-specific retention rules and any emergency closures before launching — Chinook quotas and halibut area allocations can shift quickly through May.
Yakima running high — Eastern WA trout and bass entering prime spring window
USGS gauge 12484500 on the Yakima River recorded 1790 cfs as of late May 16, a flow level consistent with active snowmelt drainage typical of mid-May in Eastern Washington. Water temperature was unavailable this cycle. At that flow, the Yakima typically carries light turbidity that pushes trout off mid-current and into softer seams along cutbanks and inside bends — a cue to fish slower water with weighted nymph rigs or soft-hackle swings along the edges. No on-the-water creel or guide reports from the Yakima or Spokane corridors arrived this cycle; WA WDFW Fishing Reports remains the most reliable check for stocking updates and weekly creel counts in the region. With the New Moon arriving today, low-light windows at dawn and dusk should outperform midday surface activity. Post-spawn smallmouth bass in the Spokane River drainage are likely transitioning toward summer feeding structure this week, making rocky current breaks and woody cover worth targeting.
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.