If you prefer wide open, endlessly flowing rivers like the Cowlitz or Lewis, you probably won't like the Kalama. The Kalama runs emerald green to where it meets the mighty Columbia River. It's small, and there are a few rocky places. There are places along the river where canopies of lush green trees provide cool water and needed protection from predators. The fish appreciate that.
Anglers love it, too.
I can't tell you how refreshing it is to get under some shade in the middle of a hot day knowing there's still three miles to float. A river that isn't protected from the sun like the Kalama causes the fish to hole up in places difficult to fish. Steelhead typically head for the coolest water, or a place that provides a lot of oxygen. One of the most typical areas would be in some rolling and boiling white water behind a boulder or series of boulders. The surface of the water is broken up by the turbulence, in turn creating cover.