Columbia River Portland Fishing Report Today

Artificial Lure coming to you with the latest from the Columbia River around Portland this Thursday, November 13th, 2025. Here’s your morning angling report—grab your thermos and let's run down what's happening!

**Tidal Situation:**

Today’s tide swings in Portland show a rising volume—fishermen can expect an early low around 6:40 am with the next high hitting roughly 12:37 pm, then dropping toward a late afternoon low. These gentle shifts will keep fish active mid-morning to midday, especially near channel edges and deep holes. According to US Harbors, sunrise was at 7:05 am and sunset tonight lands around 4:42 pm—so prime daylight hours are tighter now as we lean deeper into fall.

**Weather:**

Clouds are riding in and there’s a steady chance of light showers with temps starting near 43°F and creeping up toward the low 50s. Winds look mild at 5–8 mph from the south, which is comfortable for casting and keeps the water texture lively. Cooler air temps mean slower fish metabolism, but rain pushes the scent of bait downstream: ideal for targeting steelhead and coho.

**Fish Activity:**

Reports from The Columbian this week confirm decent activity overall, though as we slide past peak salmon runs, the haul is tilting toward winter steelhead, late coho, and resident walleye. Anglers hitting the river early have been wrangling a handful of quality steelhead up near the Lewis and Sandy confluences, while some persistent bass folks are still finding smallmouth along rocky points below Kelley Point. Recent catches highlight steelhead (up to 12 lbs, though most are 6–8 lbs), coho (few but chunky, averaging 5–7 lbs), and sturgeon—remember, sturgeon must be released.

**Hot Spots:**

If you want action, two prime locations stand out:

- **Sauvie Island - Gilbert River Mouth:** Consistently producing steelhead—drift your bait or spinner just below the bridge.

- **Willamette Confluence (around Kelley Point Park):** Good for coho and mixed bass, especially on an incoming tide and a cloudy morning.

**Best Lures and Baits:**

- **Steelhead & Coho:** Go with chartreuse or orange Spin-N-Glo, small 3.5 Mag Lip plugs, or fluorescent twitching jigs. Cured shrimp or sand shrimp, and a quarter-size chunk of roe, are both working well in the current.

- **Bass:** Pumpkinseed or green tube jigs fished slow along drop-offs and old pilings.

- **Sturgeon:** If you're after the big boys, fresh smelt or squid is bringing them up. Use stout gear and be ready for a tussle.

**Local chatter** suggests that fluorocarbon leaders (10–12 lb for steelhead, 8 lb for coho) are key, as low-clear flows make fish line-shy. Don’t forget to run your scent—anise or krill works best—and keep your offerings moving at a varied speed.

Best overall tip: work your presentation slow and steady. Early tide changes get migration bites, but as the afternoon flows settle and boat pressure eases, fish chill deeper and closer to structure. Drift rigs just off bottom and target seams where the cur

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Morning, anglers, this is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River fishing report for Tuesday, November 11th, 2025, coming at you fresh from Portland’s riverbanks.

Let’s get right to the conditions. According to the NOAA tide tables, we caught a low tide early at 4:12 AM at just under half a foot. The river hit high again at 10:48 AM at 4.72 feet, and we’ll see the afternoon ebb out to a 5:15 PM low before swinging up to another high around 11:19 tonight. With these shifting tides, expect some push and pull in the current, especially around the islands and sloughs upriver from Portland.

Weatherwise, it’s a moody Pacific Northwest mix. Local meteorologist Gordon McCraw predicts the day will stay mostly cloudy, with a slight chance of rain and calm winds pushing the mercury up near 57 degrees this afternoon. Overnight lows will dip into the mid-40s, and a rainy front returns by Wednesday morning. These scattered clouds and fresher temps help keep bite windows active, especially during tide changes and just before the next round of rain.

Sunrise broke through at 7:03 AM, and we’ll see sunset at 4:43 PM. Best fishing windows today should be the first hour post-dawn and the last hour before dusk, coinciding nicely with the mid-morning high tide.

Now, let’s talk about fish. According to the Guide’s Forecast, things have slowed down for salmon: the mainstem Columbia above Westport is closed for Chinook, and the coho run is mostly upstream of the Portland stretch, with just a handful of late stragglers pushing in. The last official salmon and steelhead count from Oregon Fish & Wildlife reported just 360 total salmon through Bonneville between October 28th and November 3rd, so it’s been a grind on the lower river recently.

That said, there’s still action for folks chasing late coho and especially those targeting sturgeon or warmwater species. Walleye fishing remains consistent in the main channel east of I-205, and bass anglers working jigs or drop-shot rigs around structure at Government Island or near the mouth of the Willamette are picking up steady numbers.

For lures and baits, with the water cooling and cloud cover in play, lean on larger-profile plugs for late coho—think Brad’s Wigglers in firetiger or metallic blues, or Mag Lips with a sardine wrap for scent. Bank anglers are still picking off some coho and bass using size 4 Blue Fox spinners in copper or chartreuse. For sturgeon, fresh-smelt or squid work best; drop bait rigs near deeper dropoffs just downstream from Kelly Point or the St. John’s Bridge.

A couple of local hot spots: Kelly Point Park has been a sleeper for big sturgeon and the odd late-run coho, and the Oregon Slough just off Hayden Island’s east end is producing nice walleye and the occasional chunky bass, especially midway through the outgoing tide.

To sum it up: Salmon action is fading, but sturgeon, walleye, and bass anglers are finding steady action. Time your outings around the mid-morning and early evening tide swing

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Columbia River anglers, it's Artificial Lure with your November 10th fishing report, live and local from the Portland stretch. We're rolling right into late fall, and the air's got that good chill—typical Northwest mist hanging low, drizzle coming and going, and a stubborn breeze off the water. Sunrise hit at 7:03am and sunset's set for 4:45pm, so daylight hours are shrinking fast today according to the Portland tide tables.

Weather's classic Portland November: low 40s at dawn, heading maybe up to the upper 40s or a cool 50 by mid-afternoon. Low clouds with a steady drizzle off and on means waterproof gear and a thermos of hot coffee are your best friends. The river's running a bit colored—rain over the weekend has boosted flows, so visibility is down. That'll push those fish closer to the banks and into slower seams.

Today's tides for the Portland area: low at 6:25am, high at 10:35am, another low at 6:16pm, and a big high rolling in at 9:23pm, per Portland Tides. In St. Helens, expect low tide at 3:50am, high at 8:32am, with the evening peak sneaking in just after dark. For Astoria, high tide hit just before sunrise at 5:22am, low at 10:36am, then a healthy high tide at 4:10pm.

Fish activity is picking up, especially for late coho. Outdoor GPS and Steve Kuhn reported a solid push of fresh coho moving through—these fish are chrome-bright and aggressive, hugging the lower river seams but still catchable up past St. Helens if you put the hours in. Yesterday, bank and boat fishers landed a fair run of coho with the occasional chinook still showing, but chinook counts are tapering off fast.

Steelhead catches are scattered but increasing, especially in the tailouts just upstream of Portland and near the Sauvie Island shoreline. Most fish are running 6 to 10 pounds, with a few larger chromers mixed in if you're lucky. Walleye catches from the Multnomah Channel have been steady for late season, with most folks pulling nice sized eaters using chartreuse jigs and nightcrawlers.

Best lures right now? For coho, twitching bright pink or orange jigs rated top results, especially in the muddy current. Blue fox spinners—size 3 or 4 in chartreuse—grab attention when visibility drops. If you're casting from the bank below the I-5 Bridge, tip your jig with a scrap of prawn or go with a Mag Lip plug, 3.5-inch, in flame or green label. For steelhead, try a 1/8-ounce black/chartreuse jig under a float, and don’t forget a bead tipped with shrimp under a bobber in the slower seams at Frenchman's Bar.

Bait’s been king in the cold. Cured coho roe, sand shrimp, and nightcrawlers are all solid. If stormwater is pouring in and the river's up, drift pink worms or eggs in slow backwaters—those fish will tuck in and wait out the dirty water.

Hot spots this morning: Meldrum Bar is producing steady coho and even a few late chinook for both bank and boat anglers right now. Further down, the mouth of Multnomah Channel is a sleeper for both coho and walleye, especially on a

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Columbia River anglers, it's Artificial Lure here with your November 9th report right from the muddy banks and busy docks of the Portland stretch. Let’s dig in—today’s sunrise hit at 7:01am, and sunset will slip in around 4:47pm according to St Helens tide forecasts, so plan those lines for the golden light.

Weather’s typical November: chilly, gray, with morning fog and scattered showers clearing into a brighter, brisk afternoon. Pack your rain gear but expect fishable windows as the week’s storms taper off and river visibility improves.

Tide action at the Columbia entrance has a midnight high running just under seven feet, dropping to a low just before dawn, with another midday high. In this stretch, the best bite tends to come on that incoming tide—think late morning to early afternoon for the hottest action right now, as confirmed by tide-forecast.com. If you’re sticking up around St. Helens, keep an eye on that big morning swing which really gets baitfish and their pursuers moving.

Fishing pressure’s thinned out, but don’t let that fool you: the late run of coho is still pushing through. The Columbian reports a solid showing of late coho this week, especially in the lower river and the cleaner tributaries. Early-season bright fish are about done, but you can still find some chrome, though most catches are turning a bit darker thanks to recent rain pushing fish upriver. Folks working the mouth of the Sandy and at the Klickitat confluence upstream of Bonneville Dam saw definite surges in catches. Most coho are running 6 to 8 pounds with some up to 10, with a few chinook still nosing around, but most have moved past this reach.

Reminders from Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife: since November 1, it’s **artificial lures and flies only**—no bait until spring. That means twitching jigs, spinners, spoons, and bead setups under floats are your tools of the trade. The Guide’s Forecast and local river reports say hot colors lately are pink and purple for jigs, chartreuse or orange for spinners, and gold-blade hardware when the sun peeks through. Coho are responding to aggressive retrieves and short pauses.

Top hotspots near Portland:

- **Sauvie Island’s Multnomah Channel**: Still producing on that afternoon flood tide, especially adjacent to edges and deeper holes.

- **Mouth of the Sandy River**: After the rain, hatchery numbers popped, with several anglers reporting limits on jigs and spinners.

- **Klickitat River mouth (upstream Bonneville)**: The early morning bite has been strongest; expect crowds but also fast action during tidal shifts.

Down toward St. Helens, the river is still giving up a few late fall Chinook, but you’ll have to cover water and put in real time for a shot at a fresh fish. Hit main channels just off deep drop-offs and near tributary mouths.

If you’re itching for something else, sturgeon catch-and-release is getting love from diehards who don’t mind cold fingers. Use heavy gear, anchor near ledge drops, and soak large a

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Artificial Lure here with your November 8 Columbia River fishing report for Portland and the surrounding stretch, delivered with a hot mug and a touch of local know-how.

First up, the **tides are mellow today**. Vancouver’s showing a low tide at 3:44am at 0.4 feet, peaking high around 7:46am at 1.1 feet, followed by another low at 3:50pm just at 0.3 feet. Sunrise rolled out at 7:00 this morning, and sunset will slide in at 4:47pm, so you’re fishing mainly under a short and crisp sky—classic late fall conditions, ideal for some of our target species. This trend holds up and down the lower river and tributaries according to the Vancouver Columbia River tide chart.

**Weather’s mild this morning—think low 40s and damp with some patchy fog.** We’re expecting highs in the low 50s by afternoon, a light east wind, and no serious rain until later in the weekend, which keeps the bite steady and river clarity relatively solid for this time of year.

**Fish activity’s the talk of the ramp.** The end of the fall Chinook run is winding down, but folks are still picking up a few chrome bright late fish at the mouth of the Willamette and up at Government Island. Trollers are landing salmon in the predawn hours, especially on plug-cut herring or larger chartreuse spinners, but many boats are shifting focus to **coho**, still rolling up in pods and hitting Brad’s Wigglers in orange or silver, or twitching 3/8 oz marabou jigs in deeper eddies. Counts on coho remain decent, especially after any overnight rain nudges them upriver.

**Walleye action in the Multnomah Channel and below the I-205 Bridge has been surprisingly reliable.** Jigging 1/2 oz lead-heads tipped with nightcrawler or slow trolling deep-diver plugs in 20-40 feet is putting beefy fish in the net. Bank anglers along Kelley Point and in the St. John’s area are getting into a mix of **burly sturgeon and late fall bass**; sturgeon are strictly catch and release, but they’re biting well on smelt or squid.

For **steelhead**, the main river’s a challenge, but smaller Columbia tributaries are starting to see the first winter runs. The Sandy and Clackamas are early hotspots—go with bead presentations under a float or pink worm jigs until more rains hit.

**Bait and lure picks:** For salmon, plug-cut herring is still king, followed by larger metallic spinners or Mag Lips in greens and chartreuse. For coho, switch to smaller spinners or twitch jigs at creek mouths. Walleye: try nightcrawler harnesses or deep-diving crankbaits in perch or firetiger patterns. For bass, smaller soft plastics or drop-shot rigs off rocky points will get you action all morning.

**Hot spots?** Sauvie Island beaches near the railroad bridge are putting out coho and the occasional Chinook, especially with a gentle outgoing tide. The mouth of the Willamette at Cathedral Park and up to Swan Island’s slip is also seeing great mixed bag fishing for salmon, bass, and the usual surprises.

And a shellfish note for the brackish reaches—acc

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Good morning, Columbia River anglers—it’s Artificial Lure checking in for your November 7, 2025, fishing report.

Clouds dominate the Portland skies today, with rain in the forecast through mid-morning and scattered showers expected throughout the afternoon. Temps will hover between 49 and 56 degrees, with SW winds 10-15 mph. Sunrise was at 6:56 a.m. and sunset will be 4:41 p.m. River levels remain high and off-color from recent storms, so visibility could be a challenge for both boat and bank fishers.

The tides near Kelley Point—where the Willamette meets the Columbia—see a low right after sunrise, with a rising tide pushing in through midday. If you’re working estuary structure or slough edges, that incoming tide is usually the bite trigger, while the slack just before high tide often produces big grabs. According to NOAA tide predictions for Wauna and Kelley Point, expect tide change spikes late morning and again in the early evening—prime slots for targeting actively feeding fish.

Fish activity in the Columbia and its lower tributaries is a bit hit-and-miss. The Guide’s Forecast reports that mainstem Columbia above West Puget Island is closed for all salmon, but tributaries are seeing hatchery coho and some dark Chinook. Most recent checks (from ODFW’s zone report last weekend) show hatchery coho moving up Big Creek, Gnat Creek, and Klaskanine, with a handful of fish still in decent shape. Bank anglers have been swinging spinners and twitching jigs for limits on good days, though most coho now are starting to color up.

Steelhead action is improving around the lower Columbia tribs, particularly early mornings. The North Fork Nehalem and the Trask saw solid pushes of hatchery coho before the last high-water event, and more rain could bring another batch in. Sturgeon remains catch-and-release only—ODFW checked several boats releasing a mix of sub-legal, legal, and oversize fish in the Bonneville and The Dalles Pools.

Downriver, walleye are biting in the John Day Pool and The Dalles, with one report showing a boat of six anglers boating 18 keepers in a day—blade baits and worm harnesses are reliable patterns. Trout holdovers are still found in local lakes, and a few folks are picking them up with PowerBait and small spoons.

Best lures for the day are classic Columbia standards:

- For coho, go with **chartreuse or orange #3 Vibrax spinners, twitching pink/silver jigs,** and **small Brad’s Wigglers** trolled below the surface.

- Steelhead favor **red or orange Corkies tipped with shrimp**, or **natural drift beads** if the water’s off-color.

- Walleye are hitting **silver blade baits** and **nightcrawler harnesses**.

For bait, **prawns, sand shrimp, and eggs** are best if you’re plunking or drifting in deeper holding runs. At higher water, scent is key—add a little extra anise oil or garlic to your eggs to punch through the muddy flow.

Hot spots this week:

- **Sauvie Island’s Multnomah Channel**—look for coho staging near railroad bridges a

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Artificial Lure here with your Thursday, November 6th, 2025 Columbia River fishing report, focused on the waters in and around Portland.

Let’s kick things off with today’s **tide information**: At Hammond, the tide’s rising now and you’re looking at a low tide around 5:05 AM and high tide at 10:09 PM. Over on Multnomah Channel, sunrise will hit at 7:03 AM—with sunset rolling in at 4:46 PM. That gives anglers a decently long window to work the bite; prime time’s right around dawn and dusk, with those tidal changes helping to move fish up[US Harbors][Tides.net].

**Weather forecast** is calling for a chilly Northwest morning in the high 30s to low 40s, warming up later with clear skies. No rain today, and light northeast winds—so expect easy boat handling and comfortable bank casting. Layer up for warmth in the early hours; shed those layers by mid-day.

Now, let’s talk about **fish activity**. According to Spreaker’s Columbia River Fishing Report from yesterday, the bite’s stayed strong for **coho and chinook salmon**, plus steelhead on the move. These runs are still filtering upriver, especially with recent dropping water temps kicking the activity into gear[Spreaker]. Local guides report bright, fresh coho showing up in the lower river and Multnomah Channel—mostly wild fish now, but hatchery keepers still mixed in. Chinook are now mostly upriver, but you’ll still tie into some late runners near the mouth, with steelhead scattered from the Willamette confluence up through St. Helens.

Catch rates have tapered a little since the main push, but bank anglers have been pulling **2–5 fish per trip**, with boats finding a bit more. Most common catches: coho to 10 lbs, chinook up to 20 lbs, plus those sleek 5–8 lb steelhead.

Let’s talk **lures and bait**. Trollers are sticking with classic spinners (size 3–5; silver, chartreuse, and pink have been money this week). Don’t forget Brad’s Cut Plugs with herring tips, especially on a slow roll in deeper runs. Plunkers and bank anglers have had luck with cured eggs under a spin-n-glo, and drift fishermen report coho smashing pink worms and bead rigs. Steelhead are biting on smaller #3 Blue Fox spinners and glo-bugs drifted near fast seams.

Want the inside edge? Early and late light is optimal, so run a **glow lure** in the first hour or last, especially if you’re fishing deep or under heavy clouds. For bass folks still grinding late fall largemouth near the sloughs, green pumpkin Ned rigs and shaky-head plastics are your go-to[Gone Fishing Northwest][Bass Resource].

**Hot spots today:**

- **Sauvie Island, near the Gilbert River mouth:** Still lots of easy bank access, and the channel holds late coho and some steelhead.

- **Warrior Rock and Multnomah Channel:** Consistent trolling action for straggler chinook and wandering coho—try the shallows near the rock and the drop-offs along St. Helens.

- **Mouth of the Willamette:** Boats working upstream edges are finding stray steelhead and a few bass, especial

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Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here bringing you the Columbia River fishing report for Wednesday, November 5, 2025, broadcasting right from the heart of Portland’s big waters.

Let’s start with today’s **conditions**. We kicked off the morning with a chilly sunrise at 7:03 AM and we’re looking at sunset coming up tonight at 4:55 PM, so you’ll want to get your casts in early and enjoy those prime twilight hours—traditionally some of the best bites of the fall run according to local wisdom and reminders from FishingReminder.Com.

Now, the **tide report** matters today, especially with coastal conditions playing a role upriver. According to Tides.net, we’ve got a low tide at 5:23 AM, then a big push with high tide peaking late morning at 11:38 AM, hitting 9.1 feet. We’ll see another low at 6:23 PM, with a sharp drop to about -1.5 feet. That low could concentrate baitfish and predators in deep channels and at river mouths, so time your efforts accordingly.

Weather’s looking classic Pacific Northwest: cloudy and cool, with highs around 56°F. Keep an eye on the wind, though—we’ve got a high surf advisory just a bit downriver, with the National Weather Service out of Portland warning about tidal overflow and heavy surf on the coast until tomorrow night. Those conditions can push fish upstream and make the lower river mouth tough to access safely, so stick to the main Portland-Vancouver stretch for stable action.

As for **fish activity**, the big news is the late **coho and chinook salmon** bite still going strong. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife notes that “opportunities are on the upswing for Oregon’s fall salmon anglers,” with the Columbia River producing healthy numbers of both chinook and coho in recent weeks. There’s also been a decent mix of **steelhead** and some **walleye** reported, especially from boaters working the deeper holes near Hayden Island and down toward Government Island.

Best reported **catches** this week: a handful of **bright coho** averaging 6-9 pounds, a few scattered chinook pushing the 20-pound mark, and steelhead in the 6-10 pound range. Bank anglers near Broughton Beach and Jantzen Bay are hooking into coho at first light, while boaters trolling meat rigs and spinners are finding chinook in the main channels.

Top **lures** right now: spinners are flying off the shelves—think Blue Fox size 4-5 in chartreuse, pink, or copper blade for coho. Anchorage QuickFish and Brad’s KillerFish plugs in metallic or bloody nose patterns are working deeper for chinook. For bait, fresh cured coho eggs and sand shrimp are the “can’t miss” baits for both species. If you’re chasing steelhead, try a pink-worm under a float or bead rigs below the riffle seams.

For **hot spots**, here’s where you’ll want to be this week:

- **Hayden Bay and Jantzen Bay** for early morning coho and chinook, especially on the incoming tide.

- **Broughton Beach** offers accessible bank fishing and has been heating up for coho during first light and

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Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River Portland Fishing Report for November 4th, 2025.

First light came at 7:06 a.m. this morning, and we’re looking at sunset right around 4:43 p.m. The days are getting short, so plan accordingly if you want to cash in on that early bite. Tides in the Portland/Columbia stretch are moderate today, with a morning low just before 8 a.m. and a midday high about 12:30 p.m., then back down to a low at 7:50 p.m. According to the Saint Helens tide chart, that pattern holds throughout the lower river, and those noonish highs should give a push to the bite as fish get active with the moving water.

Weather’s classic November Pacific Northwest—cloudy, drizzly, with pretty consistent rain and gusts forecast off and on all day. Gordon’s Weekly Weather Update out of Tillamook warns of moderate to heavy rain persisting through the week, afternoon highs in the low 60s, and overnight lows near 48. The frequent fronts are pushing a lot of leaf debris into the river, so watch those eddies and check your line often for snags or grass. And with river levels on the rise and a small chance of local flooding, keep an eye out for hazards and avoid those back channels if the water turns muddy.

Fish activity is fair to good, with fall Chinook still showing around the lower Columbia and a few late coho pushing upriver on both the Oregon and Washington sides. The big story right now, though, is the emergence of winter steelhead—just starting—so bring your steelie gear if you want to get ahead of the rush. Columbia River sturgeon catches have tapered but there’s still some solid catch-and-release opportunities for those putting in the effort below Bonneville and down by the mouth of the Willamette. Reports from Riverplace Marina and the mouth at Hayden Bay mention a handful of late coho and some respectable walleye, especially mid-morning when the tide’s running. Walleye are hanging off the channel edges, responding well to jigs tipped with nightcrawler or soft plastic paddle tails.

Your best lures right now are brad’s super baits in red or chartreuse for salmon, particularly around noon when that high tide starts to fall. Plugs and spinners—blue fox size 4 in orange or silver—are still drawing coho in the deeper slots. For sturgeon, try smelt or fresh shad if you can find it, otherwise sand shrimp remain the old standby. Early steelhead are hitting on pink worms (3 to 4 inch) under a float, and the die-hard crowd is having luck with smaller spoons near rocky transitions. Walleye are focused on slow-rolled jigs in firetiger or perch color. If you’re on the bank, spinnerbaits by the airport or at Broughton Beach can turn up a bonus smallmouth bass, especially along riprap.

Hot spots to target today: Riverplace Marina is a great urban choice for mixed bag action close to downtown. For boaters or bank anglers, Tomahawk Bay Moorage on the north side of Hayden Island continues to produce well for late salmon, catch-and-release sturgeon,

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Artificial Lure here, with your Columbia River fishing report straight out of Portland for Monday, November 3, 2025. We’re waking up to chilly fall conditions and a crisp autumn morning—first light at 7:00 am and sunset dropping early at 4:58 pm. The days are short now, so plan your casts wisely.

On the tidal front, Columbia River Entrance is seeing a low around 3:57 am at 1.4 feet, high at 10:25 am surging up to 8.2 feet, another low at 4:48 pm barely below zero, and high again at 11:13 pm near 7 feet, according to Tides.net. That robust mid-morning incoming tide is the standout—pair it with the sunrise and you’re looking at your best window for predator action.

Weather’s typical Northwest November—low-to-mid 40s early, peaking low 50s by afternoon. Last night’s light showers gave way to overcast skies. Winds are mild, east at 6-9 mph according to Columbia River entrance local weather forecasts. It’s damp, but not dumping. River temp hovers in the mid-50s: salmonids and bass are moving slower, and you’ll find fish staging up in deeper channels and structure out of the main flow.

Recent catches have leaned heavy on coho and late chinook—Lower Columbia fishing reports from The Columbian say last week saw 100–200 keeper-size coho landed each day from local bank and boat crews. Chinook returns have been waning, but there’s still opportunity for a dime-bright ‘nook if you put in hours near the confluence. Sturgeon are catch-and-release only, but anglers have reported solid hook-ups near the channel edges from Portland to Vancouver. Walleye action is steady in the backwaters and sloughs, with some chunky 24-inchers reported near the I-5 bridge and toward Government Island.

Top lures right now: For coho, toss chartreuse and orange Brad’s Wobblers, Mag Lips, or Blue Fox spinners, especially at first light. Chinook are smashing Kwikfish in wrapped sardine or prawn scent and 4.5 Mag Lips in metallic blue and silver. Swimbaits and chartreuse curly-tail grubs are getting steady walleye bites. Bass are sluggish, so look for deeper structure and work slow-moving soft plastics—think green pumpkin tubes and jigs.

Bait recommendations: Cured coho eggs are king for salmon, especially fished under a bobber at river bends. Fresh cut-plug herring run behind a diver is working for trollers. Nightcrawlers and scented soft plastics nailed most of last week’s walleye and bass. For the persistent sturgeon chasers, squid and fresh sand shrimp are a top choice.

Hot spots to hit:

- The mouth of the Willamette is producing solid coho and the odd chinook daily on both sides.

- Kelley Point Park and Sauvie Island beaches are prime for bank anglers, especially in outgoing tide pushes.

- Government Island’s back channels remain one of the best bets for walleye and late-summer smallmouth.

Fish activity is best around mid-morning with that inbound push, but banks get lively again around sunset when the low slack tide coincides with temperatures dropping. Solunar charts peg

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