Cowlitz Fish Report
Get the latest information on fish returns and sorting throughout the Cowlitz River system. Tacoma Power’s weekly Cowlitz Fish Report includes fish counts and releases at key locations, along with current river flow, water visibility and temperature below Mayfield Dam.
Weekly Fish Report
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October 12, 2026
Last week, Tacoma Power employees recovered 3,094 Coho adults, 1,876 Coho jacks, 62 Summer-run Steelhead, 11 Spring Chinook adults, 285 Fall Chinook adults, 81 Fall Chinook jacks, and 275 Cutthroat trout over six days of operations at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery separator.
During the past week, Tacoma Power employees released 1,789 Coho adults, 756 Coho jacks, ten Spring Chinook adults, and ten Cutthroat trout into Lake Scanewa at the Day Use Park and they released 453 Coho adults and 366 Coho jacks at Franklin Bridge in Packwood. In addition, Tacoma Power employees released 328 Coho adults and 387 Coho jacks into the Cispus River near Yellowjacket Creek.
Tacoma Power employees released 36 Coho adults, 28 Coho jacks, ten Cutthroat trout, 79 Fall Chinook adults, and 76 Fall Chinook jacks into the Tilton River at Bremer Bridge and they released 315 Coho adults and 333 Coho jacks into the Tilton River at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton.
River flow below Mayfield Dam is 3,660 cubic feet per second on Monday, October 12, 2026. Water visibility is 10 feet and water temperature is 53.2 (F). River flows could change at any time so boaters and anglers should remain alert for this possibility.
Cowlitz Fish Data
Hatchery-Associated Production (HAP)
Cowlitz Restoration and Recovery grant funding is available for hatchery-associated production (HAP) projects or activities that lead to on-the-ground projects. The 2026 grant round is closed. Year-round engagement is encouraged to prepare for future grant rounds.