Interstate-5: A fishy corridor from the Washington-Oregon line to U.S.-Canadian border
Story originally published in the Northwest Sportsman Magazine’s June issue
Washington’s main north-to-south interstate vein serves up plenty of fishing opportunities and more.
Planning summer trips? You’re in luck. The highways and byways that crisscross and zigzag across Washington feature many hidden fishing gems found along every turn of the road!
In the second of a three-part series, we’ll look at fishing trips and roadside stops along the Interstate 5 (commonly referred to as I-5) corridor from the U.S.-Canada border to the Washington-Oregon line. This journey spans 277 miles connecting key cities including Bellingham, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and , Vancouver.
You might just find that your next road trip is packed full of fishing choices to suit the needs of just about every angler. While fishing is high on the travel memo, we’re also adding some exciting non-fishing stops along the way too!
LAKE SAMISH
Fishing dates: Lake Samish is open year-round.
Fish species: Kokanee, cutthroat trout, yellow perch, largemouth and smallmouth bass and brown bullhead.
Where to fish: Lake Samish (809 acres) is located about 6.5 miles southeast of Bellingham and annually receives a plant of nearly 100,000 kokanee fry and fingerlings in October (70,000 in 2026). The kokanee fishery is productive from May through October.
The deepest holes in the lake are located west of the Lake Samish Drive Bridge and on the northwest end of the main lake. Anglers will slowly troll using downriggers with small dodgers and blades trailed with a short leader to a spinner, Wedding Ring, micro shrimp and plastic squid (hoochie) or a Spin-N-Glo. To the hook add a single white corn kernel or maggot with fish scent attractant. A fish finder is essential to locating schools of kokanee hovering at certain depths.
For cutthroat, cast lures, flies matching the hatch or bait; best fishing is in the spring and fall. The prime fishing time for bass (early morning and dusk are the best periods) and yellow perch is usually from May through September, but fish can be found in the winter in deeper water. Brown bullhead angling is good in spring and then picks up in the fall.
BAKER LAKE
Fishing dates: Baker Lake is planned open from July 11 through Aug. 31.
Fish species: Sockeye salmon.
Where to fish: The Baker Lake (six miles northeast of Concrete and covering 4,755 acres) sockeye fishery opens July 11 regardless of how many fish are in the lake. The daily limit is four sockeye. Each angler aboard the vessel may deploy salmon angling gear until the daily limit for all anglers has been achieved. The 2026 Baker sockeye forecast is 70,861 — another strong return that should generate great fishing. Last year’s forecast was 60,214 and the in-season return was around 92,000, which was a new record. The 2026 sockeye forecast is 67 percent of the recent 10-year average.
Downrigger trolling is effective using a medium‑action 81/2-foot rod and a level-wind reel with a 6- to 8-inch dodger paired with a short leader (6 to 14 inches long) and a 1/0 hook setup. Troll very slowly from 0.7 to 1.1 miles per hour at depths of 25 to 50 feet. A fish finder will help you locate where the sockeye schools are located; best fishing usually occurs in the north end of the lake. Refer to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (WDFW) online daily fish counts for when to go fishing.
The increasing popularity of the Baker Lake sockeye fishery means anglers must recreate responsibly and be good stewards of water access areas and campgrounds to help preserve this fishing opportunity for the future. WDFW, the US Forest Service, Puget Sound Energy and comanager tribes have discussed challenges this growing fishery can present for the limited boat ramps, campgrounds, restrooms and trash removal available around this relatively remote lake, particularly following reductions in national forest staffing and maintenance budgets.
Anglers should also be prepared for mandatory aquatic invasive species inspections before launching watercraft, expect limited restrooms and other facilities, and pack out their trash if bins are full or not available at campgrounds and water access areas. Refer to the WDFW website on the prevention the spread of aquatic invasive species. Tips for recreating responsibly outdoors are available by going to the Recreate Responsibly website.
The final salmon seasons will be announced in mid-June. Before making fishing plans to fish for sockeye at Baker Lake, anglers should check the WDFW emergency regulation webpage for updates.
MARINE AREAS 10 (SEATTLE AND BREMERTON AREA) AND MARINE AREA 11 (TACOMA-VASHON ISLAND)
Fishing dates: The Marine Area 10 (Seattle and Bremerton Area) coho fishery is tentatively set to open on June 1, and the proposed hatchery Chinook fishery is July 23–25. Additional openings may occur based on in-season assessments.
Marine Area 11 (Tacoma-Vashon Island) is planned to be open daily beginning June 1 through June 30 with a harvest quota of 1,423. It then reopens July 23–25, and open daily if quota allows beginning Aug. 1 with a late-summer harvest quota of 3,379. The early June fishery could be open seven days per week but is dependent on further WDFW fishery manager review. Area 11 is open daily for coho beginning Aug. 1 through Nov. 15.
Final salmon seasons will be announced in mid-June. Each marine area summer Chinook fishery will be evaluated and if sufficient harvest quota and/or guidelines remain, it could reopen for additional days of fishing. Before making fishing plans, anglers should check WDFW’s emergency regulation webpage.
Fish species: Coho and Chinook salmon.
Where to fish: Most coho in Marine Area 10 are resident fish averaging two to four pounds. While the best places are usually in the deepwater shipping lanes off Jefferson Head, anglers can find action in the tidal rip currents from the Edmonds oil docks to Richmond Beach, and President Point to Kingston.
In Marine Area 11, most anglers will jig or troll with downriggers using plugs, spoons or a plastic hoochie squid. You can use a whole or cut-plug herring, although dogfish feed heavily on baitfish schools and can fray fishing leaders. Try for Chinook off Tacoma at the Clay Banks at Point Defiance Park or from Owen Beach to the Slag Pile off the Tacoma Yacht Club; the “Flats” outside of Gig Harbor; outside of Quartermaster Harbor; and Point Dalco on the south side of Vashon Island.
The northern section of Marine Area 11 is another choice. Try places like Dolphin Point and the Fauntleroy Ferry area near the northeast side of Vashon Island; south of the Southworth Ferry Landing; Colvos Passage; Apple Tree Cove to Redondo Beach; and Point Robinson.
MINERAL LAKE
Fishing dates: Mineral Lake is open now through Sept. 30, but season may end up going through Oct. 31 if special rule-making finishes in time for this year.
Fish species: Rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout and largemouth bass.
Where to fish: The awesome view of Mount Rainier is equally as good as the fishing at Mineral (277 acres and three miles southeast of Elbe), but keep your eyes on the fishing pole, as you could end up hooking a bragging-size trout up to 10 pounds. Mineral was stocked with 32,850 catchable-size rainbow trout and 5,800 brown trout planted in April. Another 100,000-plus fingerling rainbow trout are annually planted each fall. Best fishing occurs in spring and remains good through June, then picks up as the water cools before the seasonal closure date.
Most shore fishing is from public fishing docks at the west end of the lake and docks at Mineral Lake Resort. The state boat launch is small, so patience is needed, especially on weekends.
LAKE MERWIN
Fishing dates: Lake Merwin — also known as Merwin Reservoir — is open year-round for all game fish and landlocked salmon.
Fish species: Mainly kokanee and some tiger muskie. Other fish species include Chinook and coho salmon and northern pikeminnow. All bull trout and Dolly Varden must be released.
Where to fish: The best fishing for kokanee at this 3,385-acre impoundment on the North Fork Lewis River 22 miles east of Woodland occurs from the surface down to 50 feet in the central part of the lake, also known as the “Main Basin” and as much as 190 feet deep. WDFW hatchery stocked 5,710 kokanee averaging 2.42 fish per pound on February 23.
Slowly troll with a small flasher/dodger with a short eight- to 10-inch leader tied to a mini hoochie, spinner or Wedding Ring. To the hook add a single white corn kernel or maggot or scented grub with fish scent attractant.
Tiger muskies are usually found near submerged timber and structure found along the vast shorelines. Statewide minimum fish size and daily catch limit regulations apply at Lake Merwin. For tiger muskies, the daily limit is one with a 50-inch minimum size limit. On April 29, Merwin was stocked by WDFW with 2,000 tiger muskies averaging 10 to 12 inches.
The reservoir fluctuates depending on the amount of runoff, making boat access difficult at times. PacifiCorp operates boat launches at Speelyai Bay and Cresap Bay. There is a fee to launch on weekends. Call (800) 547–1501 for updated reservoir levels. The lake has limited shoreline access.
COLUMBIA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES
Fishing dates: Sockeye fishing on the Columbia River downstream of the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco is planned to be open June 23 through July 5 with a daily limit of two sockeye (or one sockeye and one hatchery steelhead). Steelhead fishing on the Columbia River from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge opens June 16 through July 31 with a daily limit of one hatchery steelhead, and the stretch of river from Buoy 10 upstream to The Dalles Dam closes for steelhead after July 31.
Fish species: Chinook, coho, sockeye, steelhead and rainbow and cutthroat trout.
Where to fish: Drano Lake and the Wind and White Salmon rivers will be open June 16–30 to summer steelhead retention with a daily limit of two hatchery fish. The Klickitat River will be open for the same dates with a limit of three hatchery steelhead.
The Cowlitz, Kalama and Lewis rivers will fish well for hatchery spring Chinook into June, with the Cowlitz and Lewis picking up for summer steelhead in June and into July. Anglers should find most success fishing early in the morning with bobbers or plunking.
Later in the summer, the Columbia River fall Chinook and coho fisheries open Aug. 1 from Buoy 10 to the Highway 395 Bridge. Season timing above and below Bonneville Dam is generally aligned across areas to improve fishery stability and remain within strict conservation limits.
Buoy 10 is open Aug. 1 through Sept. 2, with alternating block periods of non-mark-selective (wild or hatchery) and mark-selective (hatchery only) Chinook and hatchery coho retention, similar to last year. From west Puget Island upstream to Warrior Rock, retention of any Chinook is allowed Aug. 1 through Sept. 2. Any Chinook may be retained from Warrior Rock upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco Aug. 1 through Sept. 15.
For a list of tentative fisheries, go to the WDFW North of Falcon webpage. WDFW will announce the 2026–27 salmon fishing season package in mid-June. The 2026–2027 sport fishing regulation pamphlet should be posted online around June 18. Printed copies should arrive at license dealers and at WDFW offices around June 26. The Fish Washington® mobile app is also updated regularly including with emergency fishing rule changes.
While water levels may be low in spots, trout fishing in many Southwest Washington rivers, streams and beaver ponds is typically solid in June and July. Many streams hold surprisingly large rainbow and cutthroat trout that can be caught using small spinners, spoons, jigs or fly-fishing gear.
Bonus fishing stops off I-5
The Skagit River sockeye fishery from the Highway 536 Bridge at Mount Vernon (Memorial Highway Bridge) upstream to the Dalles Bridge at Concrete opens from June 16 through July 31. The daily limit is four sockeye, release all other salmon and bull trout. There is a night closure in effect.
The Cascade River from mouth to the Rockport-Cascade River Bridge is Wednesdays to Saturdays only from June 3 through July 15 for hatchery Chinook. The daily limit is four hatchery Chinook, and only two may be adult fish. Night closure and anti-snagging rules in effect. Note: The boundary at the hatchery may need to change due to sediment deposition blocking the fish passage to the hatchery. This section was dramatically altered by the 2025 flooding event.
Crappie fishing should be good at Silver Lake in Cowlitz County. Yellow perch can be caught at many southwest region lakes including Lacamas Lake in Clark County. Smallmouth bass anglers will be able to find success in Riffe Lake in Lewis County with Kress Lake in Cowlitz County producing largemouth bass bites. Those in pursuit of tiger muskie can find action at Mayfield Lake in Lewis County.
Right in the heart of Seattle is Green Lake (255 acres) known to be a productive year-round trout fishery that is regularly stocked, including some tagged fish for the WDFW Trout Derby. This lake is surrounded by excellent shore and dock access on the south, east and northeast areas. Non-motorized boats can be launched from the shoreline. The lake was stocked with 10,500 trout this spring, and another 15,000 fry/fingerling are planted annually along with 4,500 jumbo-size trout in November. Anglers can also catch largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, channel catfish, and brown bullhead.
Lake Padden (152 acres) located in Bellingham off I-5 in Lake Padden Park has some of the best shore access in Western Washington. The lake is open through Oct. 31 and ahead of the opening day (April 25) it was stocked with 16,750 rainbow trout from April 14–24. The lake is also stocked annually with cutthroat trout and will receive 40,000 fry and fingerling cutthroat trout in October. Other fishing opportunities include kokanee and largemouth bass. Spring catch rates for trout are highest early in the spring season and decline as fish are harvested and as warmer water temperatures force trout to seek areas of colder refuge. Fall is often overlooked by anglers but can be an ideal time as fish that have been growing all summer become more active around the lake with cooler temperatures. There is a boat launch, but gasoline motors are not allowed.
Hundreds of other statewide seasonal lowland lakes have been stocked since opening day on April 25, and fishing should remain good through this month. To view what lakes have been or will be stocked in 2026, go the WDFW’s stocking plan webpage. To read more about the late-April statewide lowland lakes trout opener, go to the WDFW blog.
Side stops along the way
· Other outdoor destinations: Make it a combo outing by spending some time camping, hiking, sightseeing, wildlife watching or simply strolling in the many state and national parks and other local parks. They include Beacon Rock State Park located off Exit 3 near Vancouver; Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge located off Exit 14; Saltwater State Park off Exit 147 in Des Moines; Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest off Exit 193 near Everett; Gissberg Twin Lakes Park off Exit 206 in Marysville; Deception Pass State Park off Exit 230 near Oak Harbor; Whatcom Falls Park off Exit 254 in Bellingham; and Birch Bay State Park off Exit 266 near Blaine.
· WDFW-managed lands: More than one million acres of wildlife area lands can be found throughout the state. To find them go to the WDFW Wildlife areas webpage. WDFW also manages hundreds of water access sites throughout Washington, providing recreational access to the state’s lakes, rivers, and marine waters. To find water access areas, go to WDFW water access webpage.
Before you cast
· Washingtonians will need a valid 2026–2027 recreational fishing license. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) offers two mobile apps and both apps are designed to make your outdoor experience easier and more efficient. MyWDFW serves both hunters and anglers, offering electronic tagging, harvest reporting, and access to licenses and permits. Fish Washington® is tailored for anglers, providing fishing regulations, digital catch cards, and license management. Licenses may be purchased online or from hundreds of license dealers across the state.
· Remember, before heading out the door to any fishing spot, check WDFW’s fishing regulations webpage for permanent regulations and the WDFW emergency fishing rules webpage for rule updates affecting fisheries.
· Anglers parking at WDFW vehicle water-access areas are required to display the WDFW Vehicle Access Pass — provided when you buy eligible annual fishing licenses — or a Discover Pass. Anglers visiting Washington State Parks or Department of Natural Resources lands need a Discover Pass. Information on parking passes can be found at WDFW’s parking and access passes webpage.
In part one of the May magazine, we looked at fishing options along the five-hour drive across Interstate 90 — the longest stretch of freeway in our state spanning nearly 298 miles — from downtown Seattle all the way to the Washington-Idaho border.
In part three of the July magazine, we’ll follow Highway 101 from Olympia north to Port Angeles, west to Neah Bay and then south along the coast to the Astoria-Megler Bridge at the mouth of the Lower Columbia River.
(Mark Yuasa is a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Communications Manager. He also was the outdoor reporter at The Seattle Times for 28 years.)
