Salmon trips · LeadHead Guide Service
Columbia River and Grays Harbor salmon fishing guide
Spring Chinook, fall Chinook and Grays Harbor coho with a third-generation guide.
Three runs, three kinds of fishing
Some of the best-eating salmon you can get in spring, the biggest fish of the year in fall and an active, hands-on coho fishery to close it out.
Spring Chinook
Power boat fishing on the Columbia River and tributaries.
Fall Chinook
Power boat or drift boat fishing on the Columbia, Grays Harbor and tributaries.
Coho
We specialize in the Grays Harbor system, mostly casting spinners and twitching jigs. Limits are not guaranteed, but they are very common.
What we provide
- All fishing gear, bait and safety equipment
- Your fish filleted and bagged at the end of the trip
- A heater when you need one
What to bring
- Your Washington fishing license
- A catch record card for salmon and steelhead
- Waders or vinyl rain gear and waterproof boots
- Lunch and drinks
- A cooler to take your catch home
Salmon fishing in southwest Washington
Chinook and coho from spring through December
Southwest Washington sits where the Columbia River meets its tributaries and the Chehalis River meets Grays Harbor. That puts three salmon runs within reach from one home base.
Spring Chinook
Spring Chinook, or springers, are prized for their rich, red meat. They enter the lower Columbia in March, push into the Cowlitz and other tributaries through spring, and peak in April and May. We target them by back-trolling plugs, fishing herring and drifting bait in the lower Columbia and the Cowlitz.
Fall Chinook
Fall Chinook are the biggest salmon of the year, with fish over 20 pounds common and some well past 30. They move through the Columbia, the Cowlitz and the Grays Harbor rivers from August into October. Expect heavy rods and long runs.
Coho
Coho, or silvers, are the most active salmon we fish. They arrive in September and stay into December, and they are the heart of our Grays Harbor season. Coho chase lures, so trips are hands-on: casting and twitching jigs, throwing spinners and floating eggs under a bobber. Limits are never guaranteed, but on our coho trips they are common.
Seasons, limits and gear rules change from year to year and sometimes mid-season. Beau keeps up with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife rules for every trip, but you can always check the current pamphlet and emergency rules at wdfw.wa.gov.
Know your salmon
Chinook vs. coho
Two species, two very different days on the water.
Chinook
The largest Pacific salmon. Spring fish are the best-eating of the year, fall fish are the biggest. Patient fishing with plugs and bait, then a long, heavy fight.
Coho
Smaller and faster, usually 6 to 12 pounds, and they come in numbers. Active casting and twitching jigs. Great for groups and kids who want steady action.
Your day
What a salmon trip looks like
Early launch
We meet before first light so lines are in the water when the bite turns on.
Fish the tide or the run
Beau reads tides on the big river and runs and holding water on the tributaries, and moves until we find fish.
Fight and net
You hold the rod. Beau handles the boat and the net, and coaches you through every fish.
Cleaned and bagged
Your keepers are filleted and bagged at the end of the trip, ready for the cooler.
Salmon questions
When do salmon run in southwest Washington?
Spring Chinook run March to June, fall Chinook August and September, and coho September to December.
How do you fish for coho in Grays Harbor?
It is an active fishery. We mostly cast spinners and twitch jigs.
Will you clean my fish?
Yes. Your fish are filleted and bagged at the end of the trip, so bring a cooler.
Do I need a fishing license?
Yes. Every angler needs a Washington fishing license, plus a catch record card for salmon and steelhead. Buy them online from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife before your trip.
When is the best time for coho in Grays Harbor?
October and November are usually the peak, with fish arriving in September and some staying into December depending on rain and river levels.
Are spring Chinook good to eat?
Yes. Springers carry more fat than fall fish because they hold in fresh water for months before spawning, which is why many anglers call them the best-eating salmon in the Northwest.
Can I keep wild salmon?
It depends on the river, the species and the season. Many fisheries are hatchery-only, meaning fish with a clipped adipose fin. Beau checks the current rules before every trip.
