UTERChinook (king) salmon fishing in Washington freshwater
In Washington freshwater, Chinook (king) salmon peak April–May and September–October and are around March–November, spawning in October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. April: Columbia spring chinook — Drano Lake, the Cowlitz and below Bonneville.
Fall chinook on the Hanford Reach redds.
Chinook (king) salmon in Washington freshwater, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchArriving
- AprilPeakColumbia spring chinook — Drano Lake, the Cowlitz and below Bonneville.
- MayPeak
- JuneAround
- JulyAround
- AugustArriving
- SeptemberPeakHanford Reach fall kings — the last wild mainstem run.
- OctoberSpawningFall chinook on the Hanford Reach redds.
- NovemberLeaving
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Chinook (king) salmon near Columbia River, Hanford Reach, Lake Chelan
The Columbia's walleye, smallmouth, shad, salmon and sturgeon, Puget Sound steelhead rivers, Lake Chelan's lakers and kokanee, and eastern Washington's lowland lakes.
What to use for Chinook (king) salmon
- HerringCut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run.
- Anchovies (Pacific)Nose- or collar-hooked on a #4 to 1/0 hook and fly-lined with no weight, or on a dropper loop; a dozen tossed over the side as chum keeps the bass and bonito up.
- Salmon eggs (roe)A dime-sized spawn sac tied in mesh, or single eggs on a #10 to #6 egg hook, drifted along the bottom for steelhead, trout and salmon. Check the state's rule — bait is banned on many trout and salmon waters.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 44–60°F water, best at 50–56°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Chinook (king) salmon in Washington freshwater?
Peak season is April–May and September–October, with fish spawning in October (often a closed or catch-and-release window — check the rule). Chinook (king) salmon are in Washington freshwater March–November. April: Columbia spring chinook — Drano Lake, the Cowlitz and below Bonneville.
Where do Chinook (king) salmon hold in Washington freshwater?
Look on river, creek / stream, lake — around Columbia River, Hanford Reach, Lake Chelan, Skagit River, Banks Lake, Lake Roosevelt.
What is the best bait for Chinook (king) salmon in Washington freshwater?
Live bait: herring, anchovies (pacific), salmon eggs (roe). Herring: Cut-plug for salmon: head off at an angle, guts out, two hooks in tandem so it spins slow behind a flasher or a banana weight. Whole and live on a circle hook for stripers where the herring run. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Chinook (king) salmon in Washington freshwater?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and change — read the current rule at https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/fishing.
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