Today, April 2, 2025, marks a prime day for fishing the Columbia River near Portland, Oregon. With abundant opportunities for spring Chinook salmon and other species, anglers are expected to have a productive day on the water.
The sunrise today is at 6:47 AM, and sunset will be at 7:41 PM. The weather forecast indicates mild temperatures in the mid-50s to 60s, with partly cloudy skies and light winds. Tidal influences will play a role depending on the fishing location, as the Columbia River estuary sees notable changes affecting fish movement.
The spring Chinook run is in full swing, with an estimated 122,500 fish returning this season. Fishing is open from Buoy 10 to Beacon Rock through April 6, with anglers reporting catches of Chinook in these areas. Below Bonneville Dam, counts suggest promising activity, with fish caught from Rainier to Lower Puget Island. In these areas, recent reports show anglers landing Chinook, steelhead, and shad. Bank anglers are also seeing success near Portland, keeping steelhead and Chinook in moderate numbers.
For lures and bait, trolling cut-plug herring or using spinners remains highly effective for targeting spring Chinook. The Simon 3.0 Cut Plug and Colorado spinners are recommended for their consistent action. Adding scent to these lures can increase strikes. Anglers pursuing steelhead have had luck with nightcrawlers, plugs, or drifted corkies. For smallmouth bass north of Portland, shad-imitating swim baits and crawdad patterns work well in rocky areas and along drop-offs.
Hotspots today include the stretch from Kelly Point Park to Warrior Rock and areas below Bonneville Dam. Buoy 10 remains a strong bet for salmon anglers. For bank fishing, areas near Meldrum Bar or St. Helens provide accessible opportunities.
With strong fish activity, good weather, and favorable tides, today is a great day to hit the water on the Columbia River. Whether on a boat or the shore, anglers are in for an exciting day with ample opportunities to reel in some great catches.