Updated: Thursday, October 29, 2026 · Next update: Thursday, November 5, 2026
This Pacific Northwest fishing report is a seasonal outlook for the rivers, estuaries and saltwater of Puget Sound and the Columbia. Fall rain is pulling the last coho and the chum run into the rivers, while searun cutthroat and winter steelhead begin to appear. River level and rainfall are the key variables, since high water can blow out rivers and low water concentrates fish.
What’s Hitting
Coho are in the rivers and estuaries, chum salmon are entering the rivers and building, and chinook are fading. Searun cutthroat are active along Puget Sound beaches and estuaries, and winter steelhead are beginning to enter some rivers. Lingcod and rockfish remain available in Puget Sound and the coast where seasons allow. Resident coastal cutthroat feed on small baitfish near river mouths, offering fun light-tackle action on a rising tide.
Where to Find Them
Fish the lower stretches of coastal rivers for coho, estuaries and river mouths on the incoming tide for chum, and the beaches of Puget Sound for cutthroat. The lower Columbia and its tributaries such as the Cowlitz and Lewis Rivers hold coho and chum. Rivers like the Skagit and Snohomish hold salmon in the lower reaches. Sol Duc and Hoh Rivers on the Olympic Peninsula and the lower Skagit offer additional coho and chum water when conditions allow.
Tides & Conditions
Tides matter most near river mouths and estuaries, where incoming water pushes fish in. River level is the controlling variable upstream: check gauges and rainfall, because rising water brings fresh fish but can blow out visibility. Cold, wet weather is typical, so dress in waterproof layers. Plan trips around the tide and river forecast, since rising rivers bring fresh fish but can quickly blow out visibility.
Tackle & Tactics
Spinners and spoons for coho, and eggs or beads under a float for chum. For cutthroat, small flies or spinners. Use a medium-heavy spinning or casting rod. Fish the tide changes at river mouths, and watch for fish rolling. A small bright spinner or a streamer fly is a dependable search lure for cutthroat in tidal water.
Local Intel This Week
Public access includes Puget Sound launches and lower Columbia River ramps, plus public bank access along coastal rivers. Fish concentrate in estuaries and in the lower reaches of rivers. Check current state and federal regulations and emergency rules before fishing, because salmon seasons in Washington and Oregon change often. Additional access includes the Hoodsport boat ramp, Ilwaco Port and Washington’s Chinook Landing on the lower Columbia.
This Week’s Tip
Check the rules every trip. Emergency closures and openings are common in the fall, and an out-of-date regulation can end a trip quickly.
Planning a trip to Pacific Northwest?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.