Kokanees are land locked Sockeye Salmon that are naturally reproduced and planted in Merwin and Yale reservoirs by the hundreds of thousands! Kokanees are not very large salmon, but they offer a very high oil content in their meat making them one of the best table fare fish the Northwest has to offer! Hot action on these Kokanee is an everyday event in the springtime!
We catch these Kokanee Salmon by trolling flashers that attract schools of fish with corn soaked in secret scents that fish can’t resist. Many of our days are spent on Lake Merwin located just outside of Woodland WA. Lake Merwin is a beautiful lake nestled in the foothills of Mt, St, Hellens. Many days we’ll see Elk on the drive to the lake and somedays on the hills surrounding it.
Another lake we frequently fish is Yale Lake. Yale lake has tons and tons of Kokanee in it making it another go to lake to catch Kokanee salmon. Yale lake is another gorgeous lake that has a spectacular view of Mt St, Hellens. It almost looks like you’re at the base of the mountain when looking up at it! Yale is just up the highway about 5 miles from Merwin so switching lakes mid-day sometimes happens due to wind forecasts and wind direction.
Fishing these lakes is an easy venture as we have Woodland Washington within twenty minutes of either destinations. Woodland and surrounding towns have great places to stay and the food nearby is excellent!
This is a great fishery for kids and adults alike with action so steady just about anybody can get hooked on fishing! So, Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, or Dad get those kids out so they can set the hook and battle these little salmon all day long. These trips are a great start to making a lifetime memory of a fishing trip with loved ones!
NW Columbia Fishing Adventures
Columbia River fishing guide, Oregon fishing guide and Washington fishing guide, specializes in 1 to 6 man fishing trips on Northwest premier rivers. From Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam, we catch Salmon, Sturgeon, Winter Steelhead, Summer Steelhead, Kokanee, Sockeye Salmon, and Walleye. Book a trip today. Good dates fill fast!
