Kalama River Washington Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies.
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Steelhead (Summer and Winter)
Coho Salmon
Chinook Salmon (Fall and Winter)
Sea-run Cutthroat
Size
Medium
Location
Southwestern Washington
Nearest Towns
Woodland
Kalama
Season
Varies by species and area of the
river
Access:
Fair to Good
Non-Resident License
State of Washington
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Varies with species and area of the river – make sure you see the current special regulations
Spring:
March and mid-April, Chinook salmon begin to show up. Summer steelhead start showing up in May.
Summer:
Summer steelhead run from June through September
Fall:
Salmon fishing starts about the second week of October when the river levels start rising from the Fall rains.
Steelhead fishing begins about mid November.
Winter:
January to April is the best winter steelhead fishing time.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Kalama River Washington
The Kalama River is a 45-mile long tributary of the big Columbia River. It originates in the Cascade Range south of Mount St. Helens. It is one of the better southwestern Washington steelhead and salmon streams.
The popularity of the Kalama River partially comes from the fact it is easily accessed from Interstate 5 and Kalama Road. It’s a beautiful green tinted, clear stream with year-round fly fishing opportunities for salmon and steelhead. If the river has any problem, it’s the fact it is very popular but one must consider that’s usually for a good reason.
It is possible to catch salmon and steelhead all year but the Kalama River is best known for its summer-run steelhead. One great feature for fly anglers is the stream is open only to fly fishing from Summers Creek up to the Kalama Falls. Naturally, this is where you will find most fly anglers fishing. It is one of the few streams in the state with a fly fishing only section. Steelhead ranging from 12 to 18 pounds are common.
Winter runs of steelhead are still good but not what they were at one time, even though the river is heavily stocked with smolts.
The Kalama River has a decent run of Spring Chinook salmon. The run last from April to June with fish up to 10 to 20 pounds regularly taken. Chinook as high as 30 pounds have been caught.
There are Fall runs of both Chinook and Coho salmon. Chinook salmon must be released.
One important thing to remember is barbless hooks are required on the Kalama.
There are many different options for drift boat fishing. Plenty of wading options are also available. Some of the best water can be reached by hiking in and wading. It requires a tough hike within a rugged canyon.