Mike is a professional fishing guide that specializes in fishing for Salmon and Steelhead on the Kalama, Washougal and the East Fork of the Lewis Rivers. Mike will help you catch more fish!

The Pacific Northwest is the home of some of the most popular Salmon and Steelhead fishing rivers on the entire west coast. Call Fishing the West today to plan a fun and memorable Salmon and Steelhead fishing trip right here in Washington. Steelhead are extremely hard fighting fish, however they are one of the most challenging and fun fish to catch.

Fish the West includes a professional video as part of your adventure. You will fish for salmon and steelhead with Mike from a drift boat, using light tackle including Shimano and Penn reels paired with Lamiglas and GLoomis rods.

Specific techniques will include side drifting, diver and bait and plugging. These tried and true methods for catching Salmon and Steelhead  in combination with Mikes years of guiding experience, will ensure you will have a great fishing trip and the best chance to catch a Fish.

Fish the West will keep your line in the water and fish hard for you all day.

Fish the West concentrates mostly on the Kalama, Washougal and the East fork of the Lewis rivers. All 3 of these rivers a excellent Salmon and Steelhead Rivers. The Washington State record winter Steelhead was caught on the East fork of the Lewis river by one of Mikes friends Gene Maygra on April 14th, 1980: 32.75 Lbs.

The East fork of the Lewis is also known for it's large winter run native Steelhead. The best time to target this winter run is between Feb.10th and March 15th on the East fork of the Lewis and the Washougal Rivers.  We then move over to the Kalama river in early April where we can pursue  late winter run Steelhead, early summer run Steelhead and spring Chinook Salmon all on the same day.

Then in the fall we start our fall Salmon season for Kings and Coho.

We are now offering Guided Lake Merwin Tiger Muskie Trips: Lake Merwin provides a spectacular opportunity to catch a trophy Tiger Muskie.  Tiger Muskie are a ferocious fish that appear out of nowhere at a moments notice, they will chase a lure all the way to the tip of your rod, you can then do what is called an L turn or a figure 8 to keep his interest, then he may just disappear as fast as he appeared, or he may attack the lure at close range. We watch 90% of the fish we catch, bite the lure at a close distance. Tiger Muskie are large aggressive fish, with an bad attitude. Tiger Muskie are known to be the fish of 10,000 casts, however, because Lake Merwin Tiger Muskie are not pressured a great deal we are finding that we have several followers and catch fish on every trip so far, I would say, more like the fish of 100 casts. To catch these fish we mostly cast and retrieve large buck-tail spinners, swim-baits, soft-baits and plugs. Fly fishing for them is not out of the question as well. If you can cast a large 6"-10" articulated leach or streamer, you may be victorious on one of these monsters. Lets hit Lake Merwin to catch one of the most exciting fish you will ever catch.

Fish the West  likes to put their customers on the water during the best times to catch a fish, mostly fishing behind the freshets. We will book your trip for specific dates if you insist, but would rather put you on the call list for a specific window of opportunity. When the rain is predicted to stop and we have high water, we watch the water heights on the web and try to predict the best four day window. This is the best way to target the good days. With smaller runs and more anglers these days, Fish the West would like you to have the best chance of success.

If you would like any additional information about Fish the West, Mike west or any of our amazing guided Salmon, Steelhead or Tiger Muskie fishing trips. Please take a moment to contact us now..... Thanks! - Mike West