Washington Fishing Reports ยท Southwest Region
The Klickitat runs through a basalt canyon into the Columbia near Lyle, with summer steelhead, fall salmon and glacial color.
Looking for the latest Lower Klickitat River report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with live flows, current conditions, hatches and the flies working now on the Lower Klickitat River.
Current flows
Wind forecast
Lower Klickitat River fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The gauge near Pitt reads around 640 cfs.
Steelhead are still in the river. Swing flies through the runs when the water clears.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Lower Klickitat, bring: Woolly Bugger #4-6, Egg #8-12, Pat', s Rubber Legs #6-8, Zebra Midge #18-22, RS2 Emerger #18-22, JuJu Baetis #18-22, Pheasant Tail Nymph #16-20, Black Beauty #20-24, Squirmy Wormie #12-14, Scud Bomb #14-16.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Lower Klickitat River details
| Access | Access along State Highway 142 between Lyle and Klickitat. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 100 to 1,500 ft |
| Nearest town | Lyle, Washington |
| Best season | Summer and fall |
| Fish | Steelhead and salmon |
| Regulations | Steelhead and salmon seasons change often by emergency rule. Check the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations and emergency rule changes before you go. A Washington fishing license is required for anglers 15 and older, plus a catch record card for steelhead and salmon. |
| Leaders and tippet | Sink tips and 2X to 3X tippet |
| Camping | Camping near Klickitat and Goldendale |
| Kids | No. |
| Good to know | The upper river is on tribal land. Know where the boundary is. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Cold.
Spring
High glacial water.
Summer
Summer steelhead.
Fall
Fall steelhead and salmon.
How to get there
From I-84 at Hood River, cross the Columbia and take State Highway 14 east to Lyle, then State Highway 142.