The Nisqually flows 78 miles from its source at the Nisqually Glacier on Mount Rainier to its delta at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge at Puget Sound. The La Grande dam on the Nisqually River creates Alder Lake which starts at the town of Elbe. The Indians net the lower river from the mouth to the tank-crossing bridge (one mile upstream of the mouth of Muck Creek) on a regular basis.

The fishery, as in most waters, has dwindled from what it use to be. That being said one can still catch salmon during the runs. King salmon run from August to September, Coho in September to October and Chum in November to December. Every odd numbered year has a run of Pink salmon for the river. Trout fishing is chiefly done around the McKenna area.

Check the fishing regulations as they change from one type of fishery to the next.

Current river (Oct 2008) flow information on the Cowlitz, Nisqually, Wynoochee and Green rivers, plus lake levels for Riffe, Alder, Wynoochee and Cushman lakes, are available on Tacoma Power’s Fishing Line, toll free at 1-888-502-8690


Driving Directions to WDFW Handicap access:
I-5 exit 114 (Nisqually) go 1.2 mi east to Nisqually Cut-off Rd, turn southeast .4 mi on Kuhlman Rd SE, north .3 mi on Old Pacific Hwy then east .4 mi on 6th Ave SE to area.

Toni P, Nov 2008