WA Salmon Hatchery Report

This tactical guide provides a deep dive into the facilities fueling the WA Salmon Hatchery Daily Count. Whether you are timing a run on the Olympic Peninsula or checking the pulse of the Columbia River, knowing where your fish come from is the first step to a heavy cooler.

For live, up-to-the-minute escapement numbers, check our Salmon Return Dashboard.

The Powerhouses: Washington State Hatchery Profiles

Washington’s state-managed hatcheries are the backbone of our recreational seasons. Below is the intel on the facilities reporting to our live data engine.

Olympic Peninsula & Coastal Region

• Bogachiel Hatchery: Located near Forks, this is the “Steelhead Capital” producer, pumping out legendary winter runs and heavy Fall Chinook.

• Sol Duc Hatchery: Crucial for spring Chinook and Coho. This facility maintains the wild-stock integrity of the pristine Sol Duc system.

• Humptulips Hatchery: A high-volume producer for the Grays Harbor system, known for “smoker” Kings and aggressive Coho.

• Lake Aberdeen Hatchery: Provides essential support for the Chehalis River basin fisheries.

• Bingham Creek Hatchery: Sited on the Satsop, this facility is key for early-timed Coho and Fall Chinook.

• Forks Creek Hatchery: A Willapa Bay staple, providing consistent opportunity for coastal anglers.

• Naselle Hatchery & Nemah Hatchery: These South Coast facilities are the primary drivers for the Willapa Bay terminal fisheries.

Puget Sound & North Region

• Baker Lake Hatchery: The source of the famous Baker Lake Sockeye fishery. If you like “Red” meat, this is your HQ.

• Issaquah Hatchery: An urban miracle, providing King and Coho returns right through the heart of the Eastside.

• Soos Creek Hatchery: The engine of the Green River. When Soos is full, the Duwamish is on fire.

• Marblemount Hatchery: Supports the Skagit River, focusing on Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead.

• Kendall Creek Hatchery: The primary producer for the Nooksack River system.

• Wallace River Hatchery & Reiter Ponds: These facilities fuel the Skykomish River, the most popular steelhead destination in the state.

• Samish Hatchery: Home to the “combat fishing” King run that draws thousands of anglers every September.

• Minter Creek Hatchery: A South Sound powerhouse for Chum and Coho.

• Hoodsport Hatchery: Known for the “Finest Chum on the Sound” and massive Pink returns on odd years.

• Tumwater Falls Hatchery: Providing spectacular viewing and a terminal King fishery in the shadows of the Capitol.

• Voights Creek Hatchery: The Puyallup River's primary source for Fall Chinook.

Columbia River & Southwest Region

• Cowlitz Salmon & Trout Hatcheries: The “Big Producers.” Between these two, the Cowlitz remains the most productive salmon river in the state.

  • Tactical Tip: Ensure you have the right Gamakatsu Big River Hooks for these heavy-duty Cowlitz Kings.

• Kalama Falls Hatchery & Modrow Trap: Consistent producers of Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead.

• Lewis River & Merwin Hatcheries: These facilities (including the Merwin Dam FCF) manage the heavy lifting for the North Fork Lewis.

• Washougal Hatchery & Weir: Vital for the lower Columbia “B-Run” steelhead and Fall Chinook.

• Skamania Hatchery: The birthplace of the “Skamania Strain” summer steelhead.

• Priest Rapids Hatchery: A massive producer of Upriver Bright Chinook, ensuring the “Reach” remains a world-class destination.

Eastern Washington & Inland

• Lyons Ferry Hatchery: The Snake River's primary defense against extinction, producing massive numbers of steelhead and Fall Kings.

• Tucannon Hatchery & Dayton Pond: Crucial for Southeast Washington steelhead and springers.

• Chelan PUD & Chiwawa Hatcheries: Managing the fragile balance of the Upper Columbia runs.

• Omak Hatchery: Essential for the Okanogan River basin recovery efforts.

The “Invisible” Rivers: Understanding Federal Hatchery Data

Anglers often ask why our live dashboard doesn’t show counts for certain famous rivers like the Wind or the Entiat. These are National Fish Hatcheries (NFH) managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, rather than the WDFW.

Why is the data missing?
State data is published via a real-time Socrata API. The Federal government uses a separate reporting system that is not currently compatible with the state's live data stream. While these fish are very real, their counts are reported on a delay or via different federal portals.

The Federal List:

1. Carson NFH: Located on the Wind River, this is the source of the famous “Carson Strain” Spring Chinook.

2. Entiat NFH: Dedicated to Summer Chinook and Steelhead recovery in the Upper Columbia.

3. Little White Salmon NFH: This is the facility that feeds Drano Lake, perhaps the most popular Spring Chinook hole in the world.

4. Makah NFH: Located on the Tsoo-Yess River, focusing on coastal Coho and Chinook for tribal and recreational harvest.

5. Quilcene NFH: A major contributor to the Hood Canal Coho fishery.

6. Winthrop NFH: Essential for Methow River Steelhead and Spring Chinook.

Grandpa's Grumble: “Gear Up or Go Home”

Listen up, kids. Looking at the data won’t catch the fish if your gear is garbage. Stephen Hawking could calculate the exact second a King hits the Marblemount trap, but he couldn’t catch one with a rusty hook. If the counts are climbing at the Cowlitz or the Skookumchuck, stop staring at the screen and check your leaders.

Grandpa's Pro-Tip: When the water is clear and the hatchery is full, go small. A Blue Fox Vibrax Spinner in silver or pink is usually the “What’s Bitin” answer you’re looking for.

Keep an eye on the Hatchery Dashboard daily. The fish wait for no one.