Waters · United States
Lewis River (Ariel) fishing report
Updated Sunday, October 25, 2026 · refreshed automatically through the day
The lower Lewis below Merwin Dam is a hatchery-driven Columbia tributary with steelhead almost all year and big coho and spring chinook runs. Dam releases, not rain, decide most of its flow.
Today's report: excellent (85/100)
Coho salmon is the most promising species on Lewis River (Ariel) today. Water temperature is around 47°F (8.2°C) and barometric pressure is stable. Gauge LEWIS RIVER AT ARIEL, WA shows the water level steady.
Lewis River (Ariel) water temperature and flow
- Discharge: 2,571 cfs (72.8 m³/s) — up 1% over 24 hours
- Level trend: steady
Measured at gauge LEWIS RIVER AT ARIEL, WA · reading 15 min ago. Published by the national hydrological service, not estimated by us.
Best time to fish today
- 12:00 PM–2:00 PM local time — score 80/100
- 5:00 PM–7:00 PM local time — score 85/100
- 8:00 AM–10:00 AM local time — score 88/100
3-day outlook by species
| Species | Sunday, Oct 25 | Monday, Oct 26 | Tuesday, Oct 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steelhead | 74 — good | 76 — good | 73 — good |
| Coho salmon | 85 — excellent | 88 — excellent | 85 — excellent |
| Chinook salmon | 83 — excellent | 85 — excellent | 85 — excellent |
Why this score
Cast & Scan uses a deterministic, published scoring model — no black box. The strongest influences on today's Lewis River (Ariel) rating:
- water temperature: helping (+1)
- pressure trend: helping (+1)
- light: helping (+1)
- precipitation: helping (+1)
- season: helping (+1)
- cloud cover: helping (+0.95)
Forecast computed Sun, 25 Oct 2026 17:45:05 GMT · data: Open-Meteo + gauge LEWIS RIVER AT ARIEL, WA · refreshed automatically through the day · see our published accuracy
Winter fishing on Lewis River (Ariel)
The lower Lewis carries winter steelhead below Merwin Dam, along with late coho early in the season. The flow comes mostly from dam releases, so big storms affect it less than the free-flowing coastal rivers. A sudden change in releases can still move fish and change wading depth quickly.
Seasons, closed sections and permits are set by the state and change. Check the current regulations before a winter trip, and never trust shelf ice or a forecast for your safety.
Wondering how this stacks up against the apps you already know? Cast & Scan vs Fishbrain vs BassForecast — an honest comparison, including where they beat us.
Read before you go
More steelhead waters
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- Black River (Elyria) — Ohio, USA
Nearby waters
- Cowlitz River (Castle Rock) — Washington, USA (28 mi away)
- Sandy River (Bull Run) — Oregon, USA (38 mi away)
- Clackamas River (Estacada) — Oregon, USA (46 mi away)
- Wilson River — Oregon, USA (65 mi away)
- Nestucca River — Oregon, USA (78 mi away)
- Deschutes River (Sherars Falls) — Oregon, USA (88 mi away)