Kalama river report for you all. Kings are stacked thick as they can be. Also are taking eggs like no one else's business. I heard of a night time sting by wardens on the river on saturday night ticketing seven guys for a minimum violation charge of $740.00 I campped on friday night and saw wardens tromping through the opposite side of the bank I was on. It's good to see the wardens going out of the normal path and writing tickets to those who are fishing in closed waters. silvers are starting to show and steelies are making them selves known as well.

I fished the Kalama as well this weekend (mostly fly fishing only areas). It was the first time I'd ever been to that river and it was disheartening to see a lot of snaggers- including fly fishers. I didn't see any wardens at night but there were quite a few fly fishermen fishing well in to the night easily seen from the road (they had headlamps on).

I saw a number of fish caught including a king which had to be 40lbs. What I don't get is why so many people kept fish which were obviously VERY dark. I can't imagine they taste all they great.

After my first impression of the Kalama river I seriously doubt I'll ever fish it again. Too many people, too much trash, and the ethics I observed were just not what I'd like to see anywhere. At the RV park snagging hole alone there must have been 30 people standing shoulder to shoulder on Saturday afternoon. There are too many other nice places with less of that sort of trash to put up with it on the Kalama.

CWUgirl,
I was in the fly only water first thing on Sat and Sun. I didn't see any girls there. There are some dark fish there but we also caught some nice chrome ones. My experience on the fly only water has been if its foul hooked it immediately broken off. There are lots of fish in the river right now and sometimes a fish is foul hooked. I use size 6 and 8 hooks to reduce that chance. Many of the people I see intentionally foul hooking fish are up by the hatchery stream. Sorry for the bad experience.

~steelymann~

CWUgirl, Don't give up on the Kalama. It is a fun river to fish. You just happened to pick a bad time to see it for the first time. I really like fishing it in the spring time. Lots of Springers and Steelies. I personally think there are some beautiful areas on the river. Give it a chance next spring.
Craig

CWU Girl,
....you hit the river at a bad time. I'd have the say the Kalama is one of the most beautiful rivers I have fished and is one of my favorites. Wait till the crowds thin out and/or stay away from the traditional snagging areas and you will have a good time.

CWU Gal, I remember you from the WFF site. Check out that video by Jim Teeney on Flyfishing for Steelead, I was told that the entire video was shot in the Kalama in 87', those were the days of Stacked Steelhead in untouched waters! Its beautiful a river, just pretty crappy when everyone and their grandma are there for the salmon. Go further up the river where it tests your roll casting abilities and away from the crowds, weekdays are the best.
Good luck! Peter ><>

Peter, I fished mainly upriver (with a WFF member, ex-moderator ), which did mean we were away from the crowds, but the fish were far and few between. It is an absolutely gorgeous river, especially the upper river. In the lower fly fishing only section the people were pretty much shoulder to shoulder, which I just don't like to participate in- even if there are LOTS of fish stacked up.

It seems that salmon in the rivers bring out the worst in people which is what I saw this weekend. I even saw a parent teaching their kids the art of snagging on a half dead king too sick to move out of the way. Lovely.

If I ever go back there, I'd definately hit it on a weekday.

it's sure funny how salmon season brings the whole family out. adds to the existing crowds well. i'll chase steelies.

Pete FF

Teeny shot that video on the Kalama, but also the Klickitat, and Salmon in Oregon when it was open, among other rivers.