Largemouth Bass

While the Kalama River is famous for its salmon and steelhead, don't overlook the opportunities for largemouth bass in the sloughs and backwaters connected to the Columbia River near Kalama, Washington. These areas, such as the Kalama River Slough, provide warmer, slower-moving water preferred by largemouth. Spring, from late April through June, is excellent as bass move shallow to spawn. Focus on areas with submerged vegetation, docks, and woody structure. The largemouth here tend to be fairly aggressive, and spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics all work well. Launching a boat from the Port of Kalama provides access to a variety of these sloughs. Be mindful of the tides and currents of the Columbia River when navigating these waters. The bass population benefits from the Columbia's nutrient-rich waters, leading to healthy, well-fed fish.