Spring Chinook fishing is about in it's peak in many areas of the state and it has been less than stellar most days. I have been fishing Drano Lake where the returns have been even less than predicted and the catching a little on the tough side. There are some nice fish to catch and if your willing to put the effort out there are a few fish around. With the lack of numbers a person has to have everything in good order to succeed, good bait is key to success, whether it be your herring or prawns. Red labeled is the best bet when herring is your bait of choice on Drano lake. Prawns spinners are always a good choice especially when the water warms above 48 degrees, it is now 52 plus most days. Plugs of choice are Mag Lips made by Yakima Bait Co. with the top colors being a  gold double trouble, Thumper, Hammer Time or Mad Clown.  Trolling these behind the boat with 50 to 80 feet of line out will get it done. Don't forget to wrap them with a small fillet of sardine. Bobber fishing has started in the cove and as always good sandshrimp is top bait.

Wind River area has been tough as well. Trolling green label herring, Mag Lip Plugs and Wiggle Warts do well here. Most areas you'll fish here are very shallow so fish the plugs with only 30 to 5 foot of line out. If your plugs are digging in to bottom shorting the amount of line out on teh plugs, fishing them close to the boat still gets you bit here.

I have now shifted from Drano Lake to the Cowlitz for the remainder of this Springer season. The Cowlitz is a back bouncing or diver and bait game for these chinook and you must cover lots of water to find them, this is where being on the river everyday pays off. Back trolling plugs  also works well with the Mag Lip 3.5 being the best bet here, a person can search large areas of holding water with a few rods in the water with these plugs. Look for Summer Steelhead to start being caught in greater numbers as the first week in June is usually when we see are first real good numbers of them in most rivers on the west side....Can't wait for these fish as it usually means lots of chances at big fish during a normal day while wearing short sleeved shirts and sunglasses. 

Here's a few nice chinook from both Drano lake and the Cowlitz river.

For more info call Phil Stephens, Mystical Legends Guide Service Call (206) 940-0052 or E-mail

Last week we were catching walleye and perch over east in The Potholes. We found fish stacked up and we hammered on them. Anything tipped with a worm caught fish. Thank you Lowrance Depth Finders! Preparing Fish Tacos!The weekend had Mario V.  and I fishing in The Mardon Open Bass Tournament. We found our limits of bass easily and quickly everyday. We had to work a bit harder to find our BIG fish bites, but we did manage to cull through between 20-30 fish a day to get our weight up. It was a fun tourney for us.We ended up finishing in 7th place overall. Pretty good for a Salmon & Steelhead guide :-) We caught our fish using a variety of soft plastic baits..., Lizards, senko's, git zits, and creature baits did the trick. The real key to success was to search and destroy. Covering lots of water and returning to those areas where we spotted fish and then working those areas over hard paid dividends. Next on tap is walleye and bass combo trips on The Potholes reservoir through this month. If you want in on the great action right get a hold of me.
 Starting June 1st it's back to the rivers and chasing chrome bright King Salmon & Steelhead. Have a wonderful & safe Memorial Day weekend everyone. See ya on the water & FishON!!!!

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See Salmon University

Mark Coleman - Guide/Owner, All Rivers & Saltwater Charters
www.allwashingtonfishing.com, 425-736-8920

Team Guide Drift Boats

The Cowlitz has been slow but Casey has been putting in long hours and an extra effort to catch a Springer or Steelhead a day followed by an afternoon on Rife Lake for Kokanee so everyone can take some fish home each day.  Our Combo Springer/Steelhead trips are now officially Springer/Steelhead/Kokanee all for the price of 1!!

Sturgeon fishing has been good on the Willamette River and on the Columbia this last week. Open for retention on the Columbia River Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. 

Columbia River Sturgeon

Ryan McCaughan - Riverside Guide Service - www.seattlefishingtrips.com - Email: seattlefishingtrips@yahoo.com.

Gift Certificates Available

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1-866-846-4240.