What Cathlamet Bay offers and when to fish it

Cathlamet Bay is a tidal estuary where the Cowlitz River meets the Columbia, about 40 miles upriver from the Pacific. The bay itself is shallow—most of it runs 8 to 15 feet deep—and it shifts constantly with the tide. At low water you'll see mudflats and channels; at high tide the whole system floods wide and slow. This makes it fundamentally different from the open Columbia mainstem you'd fish near Astoria. The bay holds Chinook and coho salmon, sturgeon, and cutthroat trout, but you have to time the tide and know which channel holds fish on any given day.

The best fishing windows are the slack tides—the hour or so when the water stops moving between flood and ebb. During these windows, salmon hold in place instead of being pushed around, and they feed. Most anglers fish the hour before and after slack, not during it. Winter runs (December through February) bring larger Chinook; summer coho show up June through August. Sturgeon are year-round but most active in spring and fall when the water temperature sits between 50 and 60 degrees.

Key Takeaways

  • Cathlamet Bay is a shallow tidal estuary where timing the slack tide is more important than location—fish feed during the hour before and after the water stops moving.
  • Winter Chinook (December–February) run larger than summer fish, but summer coho (June–August) are more predictable and easier to hook.
  • Launch from Cathlamet or Longview on the Washington side; the bay itself has no developed ramps, and tidal flats make launching at low water impossible.
  • A 16- to 20-foot boat with a shallow draft handles the bay's muddy bottom and narrow channels better than a deep-V hull designed for ocean water.
  • Sturgeon fishing requires a Washington fishing license and a separate sturgeon permit; salmon seasons and bag limits change yearly and vary by species.

Launch sites and boat access

You cannot launch directly into Cathlamet Bay itself. The nearest public ramps are in Cathlamet, Washington (on the bay's eastern edge) and Longview, Washington (about 12 miles upriver on the Cowlitz). The Cathlamet City Ramp is small and silts up at low tide, so launch at high water if you're using it. Longview's Port of Longview operates several ramps on the Cowlitz that stay navigable year-round because the river channel is deeper and more stable than the bay.

From either launch, you'll motor downriver to reach the bay proper. The run from Longview takes about 20 minutes at idle speed; from Cathlamet it's 5 to 10 minutes. Bring a tide table or download the NOAA tide app for Cathlamet—it shows you when slack water occurs and how much the tide will swing that day. A 2-foot tide swing means the bay is fishable; a 10-foot swing (common in spring) can drain channels completely and trap you on a flat if you're not paying attention.

Boat type and shallow-water gear

A shallow-draft boat is essential. Aluminum skiffs 16 to 20 feet long with outboards or jet drives work best because they draw 1 to 2 feet and can be beached or poled off a flat if you run aground. Deep-V hulls designed for ocean fishing will ground you on the muddy bottom and are hard to get off without help. If you're renting, ask the operator whether the boat has a jet drive or a shallow-water prop; a standard outboard prop will foul with mud and weeds in the bay's channels.

Bring a push pole or a long oar even if you have an engine. When you're working a channel at slack tide and the water is only 4 feet deep, you'll want to pole into position without spooking fish with prop noise. A GPS with a good map layer (Navionics or Garmin) helps you find channels between tides, but don't trust it completely—the bay's bottom changes with storms and seasonal silt movement. Talk to the launch operator or a local guide about which channels are running deep that week.

Salmon fishing: timing and technique

Winter Chinook (December through February) average 25 to 35 pounds and hold in the deeper channels—the main Cowlitz channel and the deep water where it meets the bay. Fish the slack tide by anchoring or holding position with the engine in gear, then casting or jigging. Most anglers use 4- to 6-inch herring or candlefish on a simple mooching rig (a sliding sinker, swivel, and 2-foot leader) or cast small spoons and plugs that mimic baitfish. The Chinook bite is often subtle—a slow pull or a weight change rather than a hard strike.

Summer coho (June through August) are smaller (8 to 15 pounds) but more aggressive. They'll chase a moving lure and often hook themselves. Cast or troll small spinners, spoons, or plugs in the shallower flats and channel edges. Coho are less tide-dependent than Chinook—they'll feed throughout the tide cycle—but the slack water still produces better because the fish aren't being pushed around. Both species require a Washington fishing license and a current salmon endorsement; check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website for the current season dates and bag limits, which change yearly.

Sturgeon: seasons, permits, and regulations

Cathlamet Bay has a year-round sturgeon population, but spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are most productive when water temperatures are between 50 and 60 degrees. Sturgeon fishing is completely different from salmon: you anchor in 10 to 15 feet of water, use heavy sinkers to keep bait on the bottom, and wait. Standard bait is fresh shrimp, herring roe, or squid. A 6- to 7-foot medium-heavy rod with a reel that holds at least 200 yards of 20-pound line is standard.

Washington requires a separate sturgeon permit in addition to your fishing license. The permit is inexpensive but mandatory, and you must check the current season before you launch—sturgeon seasons open and close on specific dates and sometimes close early if the catch limit is reached. The bay's sturgeon are mostly white sturgeon (legal to keep) with occasional green sturgeon (which must be released). Size limits and bag limits vary by year; contact the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife or check their website before you fish.

Cutthroat trout and seasonal patterns

Cutthroat trout in Cathlamet Bay are smaller than their mountain-stream cousins—most run 10 to 14 inches—but they're abundant and willing. They're most active in spring (April and May) and fall (September and October) when the water is cool and the bay is less crowded. Fish the shallow flats and channel edges with small spinners, spoons, or flies. A 5- to 6-weight fly rod with a sinking line works well if you're comfortable with it; spinning gear with 4- to 6-pound test is simpler and just as effective.

Cutthroat don't require a separate endorsement—your Washington fishing license covers them—but the daily bag limit is usually 5 fish. They're a good option when salmon aren't biting or when you want to spend a morning catching smaller fish without the wait-and-watch intensity of sturgeon fishing. The trout bite is steadiest during the first two hours after sunrise and the last two hours before sunset, regardless of tide.

Weather, safety, and seasonal conditions

Cathlamet Bay is protected from ocean swell by distance and the Columbia's width, but it's exposed to wind. The bay can go from calm to choppy in 30 minutes when wind funnels down the river valley. Check the marine forecast before you launch, and don't stay out if the wind is forecast to pick up. The bay's shallow water and muddy bottom mean waves build quickly and can be steeper and more chaotic than deeper water—a 2-foot wind wave in the bay feels worse than a 3-foot ocean swell.

Winter fishing (December through February) brings cold water and short daylight. Wear a life jacket, bring extra layers, and tell someone on shore where you're going and when you'll return. Spring and summer are more forgiving, but the bay is still a tidal system—if you run aground on a falling tide, you could be stuck for hours. Carry a push pole, know where the deep channels are, and check the tide before you anchor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a guide to fish Cathlamet Bay?

No, but a guide is worth the cost if you've never fished a tidal estuary. They know which channels hold fish on any given tide, can read the bottom, and will teach you how to time the slack water. If you're comfortable with tides and shallow-water boating, you can fish it on your own with a good tide table and a GPS.

What's the best time of year to fish Cathlamet Bay?

Winter (December–February) for large Chinook, summer (June–August) for coho, and spring or fall for sturgeon. Spring and fall are also good for cutthroat trout. Each season has different fish, different techniques, and different weather—pick based on what species you want and how much cold weather you can handle.

Can I fish Cathlamet Bay from shore?

Shore access is limited. The bay's edges are mostly private property or mudflats. A boat is the practical way to fish it. If you don't own one, several charter operators in Longview and Cathlamet run guided trips on the bay and the lower Cowlitz.

What happens if I run aground on a mudflat?

If the tide is still falling, you'll be stuck until it comes back in—usually 6 to 12 hours depending on the tide range. Carry a push pole and know the channels. If you do ground out, don't gun the engine; you'll dig in deeper. Pole off or wait for the tide, and call for help if you need it.

Do I need different licenses for salmon, sturgeon, and trout?

You need a Washington fishing license for all three. Salmon requires an additional salmon endorsement; sturgeon requires a separate sturgeon permit. Trout is covered by the base license. All are inexpensive and available online or at sporting goods stores in Longview and Cathlamet.