Columbia River Portland Fishing Report Today

Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River fishing report out of the Portland stretch.

We’re sitting on a cool, classic early-summer pattern. Overnight lows dropped into the low 50s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s this afternoon under partly cloudy skies and light west winds around 5–10 mph. Barometer is steady, and that usually keeps the bite consistent through the morning and the last couple hours of light.

Sunrise is right around a quarter to 5 in the morning, with sunset just after 9 in the evening, so you’ve got a long window. Best bite has been that gray light pre‑sunrise push and then again the dusk period, especially once the river traffic backs off.

Tide-wise, the lower Columbia’s running a typical mixed pattern. Expect the outgoing to pick up through the morning and an afternoon flood that softens late-day currents. Around Portland proper you don’t see big vertical swings, but those subtle pushes are enough to set fish up on current seams, wing dams, and the downstream edges of islands.

Sturgeon anglers have been doing decent on keeper-size fish in the legal areas downriver, with most action on fresh-smelling bait: smelt, sand shrimp, and squid strips. A lot of the oversize have slid deeper, so focus on 40–70 feet on the edges of the main channel ledges.

Warmwater bite is improving. Smallmouth bass are waking up along rocky banks, riprap, and barge pilings. Work 5–15 feet with 3–4 inch green pumpkin tubes, Ned rigs, and small swimbaits. When the sun gets high, slow it down along shaded structure and pilings.

Walleye catches have been solid in the classic Columbia lanes: think drop-offs below islands and gentle bends. Slow troll bottom bouncers with worm harnesses in chartreuse, perch, or clown patterns. If you’re a plastics person, crawler-style soft baits on a slow-death hook will do the trick.

Summer steelhead are just starting to trickle through, and the early crowd is picking off a few. Try small spinners in copper or brass, or size 3–4 inline spinners with a touch of red or orange. Plugs in steelhead-clown or metallic blue back are worth a pull on the travel lanes near the channel edge.

For salmon, numbers are still modest in this stretch, but if you’re targeting them, run 360 flashers with small spinners or Brad’s‑style superbaits in chartreuse, chrome, or watermelon. Herring and anchovy still produce, especially on that first light outgoing.

Couple of local hot spots worth your time:

• The stretch around the I‑205 bridge and Government Island: good mix of depth, current seams, and structure for walleye, smallmouth, and the occasional steelhead traveling through.

• Downstream toward Sauvie Island and around the mouth of the Willamette: classic lanes for sturgeon and walleye, with pockets of bass holding tight to rock and wood.

Overall fish activity today should be best from first light through mid‑morning and then again from about two hours before sunset until dark. Midday can still fish, but you’ll want to go deeper and slower, especially for walleye and sturgeon.

Best lures: green pumpkin tubes and Ned rigs for bass, chartreuse and perch-pattern worm harnesses for walleye, metallic spinners and medium plugs for steelhead. Best bait: sand shrimp, smelt, and squid for sturgeon; nightcrawlers for walleye; cured roe or anchovy for salmon if you’re hanging in travel lanes.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River Portland fishing report.

We’ve got a classic early-summer setup on the big river. Around Portland the weather today is mild and stable: morning temps in the low 50s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s by afternoon with partial clouds, light west to northwest breeze 5–10 mph, and only a small chance of showers. Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m. and sunset near 9:00 p.m., giving you a long window to work the changing light.

The Columbia here is still running big and cold, with decent visibility but some stain along the banks where feeder creeks dump in. Flows are pushing harder on the Washington side seams and around the major bridges. No big barometric swings or storms, so fish behavior is mostly tied to current and light rather than weather shocks.

This stretch isn’t truly tidal like down near Astoria, but you do feel river “pulses.” Expect the bite to perk up on the softer current windows: early morning, late evening, and any slight drop in outflow. Midday, when the sun is high and boat traffic ramps up, the action tends to back off and push fish a bit deeper or tighter to structure.

Recent chatter from local tackle shops and docks has the warmwater bite improving. Smallmouth bass are waking up on rocky banks, riprap, and wing dams from the I-205 bridge downstream toward Government Island and along the Vancouver side. Numbers have been decent with lots of 10–14 inch fish and the occasional 3–4 pounder. Best bets are **1/4–3/8 oz tube jigs** in green pumpkin, **Ned rigs**, and **small crankbaits** bumped along the rocks. Early and late, a **topwater walking bait** or popper can draw some explosive strikes on calm surfaces.

Walleye reports have been fair but not red hot right in Portland; most of the heavier stringers are still coming from the gorge and below The Dalles. That said, a few local anglers are quietly picking up eaters around deeper bends and channel edges near Government Island and just upstream of the I-5 bridge. Slow-trolled **worm harnesses with nightcrawlers**, or **1/2–3/4 oz jig heads** tipped with crawlers or soft plastics, are the go-to. Keep those presentations near bottom, just ticking, at a slow crawl.

On the salmonid front, main pushes of spring Chinook are tapering, but there are still a few late fish and summer steelhead sliding through. Catch rates have dropped compared to peak season, so think of it as a bonus fishery rather than a numbers game. Trolled **spinners** or **herring** in the main travel lanes at first light, or **prawns** and **cured eggs** on anchor near travel slots, can still turn a fish if you put in time. Most of the success now is coming from anglers who know the lanes and are patient.

For multispecies fun, don’t overlook the panfish and pikeminnow in the sloughs and backwaters. Worms under a bobber or small jigs will keep rods bending, especially if you’ve got kids onboard.

A couple of solid hotspots to consider today:

• **Government Island area** – Work the rocky points and drop-offs for smallmouth with tubes and cranks, and probe the deeper edges with crawler rigs for the occasional walleye. The mix of current seams and structure keeps bait and gamefish stacked here.

• **Vancouver waterfront / I-5 bridge area** – Classic urban fishery: riprap, pilings, and current breaks. Great for smallmouth along the rocks with plastics and small cranks, and a decent shot at roaming salmonids if you troll the main channel edges at dawn.

Best overall lures and baits right now:

• For bass: green pumpkin tubes, Ned rigs, small squarebill crankbaits, and walking topwaters at low light.

• For walleye: crawler harnesses with blades in gold or chartreuse, jigs with nightcrawlers.

• For salmon/steelhead: spinners, plug-cut herring, prawns, and well-cured eggs where legal and in season.

Wherever you set up, think seams, edges, and shade: the current breaks behind points, the dark side of pilings, and those little inside turns on the channel are holding fish as the sun climbs.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River fishing report around Portland.

We’re sitting in a classic late‑spring pattern on the big river. Overnight temps dipped into the low 50s, with daytime highs pushing into the low 70s, light west wind 5–10 mph, and mostly clear skies with some high clouds drifting through. Local forecasts call for stable barometric pressure and only a slight breeze this afternoon, which should keep the river very fishable.

Sunrise came just after 5:20 a.m. with sunset a little after 9:00 p.m., giving you a long window to work the low‑light bite. The best feeding periods today are first light through about 9 a.m., then again from roughly 7:30 p.m. to dark. Midday is slower unless you target deeper slots and current breaks.

Down at the estuary and up through the lower river, tide swings are modest today, but you’ll still notice the push and pull below Longview. Around the Portland stretch the “tide” mostly shows up as subtle current changes: softer flows on the flood, a little extra push on the ebb. Expect your best action when flows are changing rather than dead‑steady, especially along wing dams and channel edges.

Fishing pressure has eased a bit after the peak spring Chinook rush, but there are still some late springers around plus a growing number of summer Chinook and steelhead. Recent chatter from local shops and boat ramps has bank and boat anglers picking up a mixed bag: a few keeper Chinook early, some hatchery steelhead, plenty of smallmouth bass, and increasing numbers of shad below Bonneville.

For salmon and steelhead, most of the catching has been early in the morning. Trollers working downstream runs with 360 flashers and small 3.0 spinners or Brad‑style cut‑plug crankbaits in green/chartreuse and chrome have found a few fish in 15–30 feet. Plug‑cut herring is still a solid bet where allowed, especially on the deeper outside bends. Steelhead are showing on plugs like Mag Lips and smaller Kwikfish wrapped with sardine, pulled along current seams and the edges of travel lanes.

Smallmouth fishing has been the steadiest bite in the Portland pool. Rocky banks, riprap near bridges, and the mouths of tributaries are producing good numbers. A lot of locals are doing well with 3–4 inch soft‑plastic swimbaits, green pumpkin tubes, and drop‑shot worms in natural baitfish colors. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits in white or shad patterns cover water quickly when there’s a little chop. If the sun gets high and the wind lays down, switch to finesse: Ned rigs, small jigs, and light line around rocks and pilings.

Shad are stacked up below Bonneville when flows cooperate. Shiny little darts and tiny spoons in silver, chartreuse, or pink, fished just off bottom in the main current, are putting up fast numbers on light tackle. It’s a great option if you’ve got kids or just want steady action.

Best baits and lures right now:

- For salmon: plug‑cut herring, prawn spinners, and 3.0–3.5 spinners behind 360 flashers; chartreuse, chrome, and green glow are working.

- For steelhead: smaller plugs (Mag Lips, Kwikfish) with sardine wraps, plus metallic spoons and spinners in slower seams.

- For smallmouth: green pumpkin tubes, Ned rigs, small swimbaits, and shad‑pattern crankbaits.

- For shad: 1/16–1/8 oz shad darts and tiny spoons in bright metallics.

Couple of local hot spots to consider:

- The Portland Harbor stretch from the St. Johns Bridge down toward downtown: good smallmouth along riprap and pilings, with the occasional bonus Chinook traveling the channel.

- The mouth of the Willamette where it meets the Columbia: classic travel lane for salmon and steelhead, plus solid smallmouth structure on both sides of the confluence.

As always, check the current Oregon and Washington regulations, pay attention to any emergency rule changes, and mind the shipping lanes—big water and big boats out here.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River fishing report for the Portland stretch.

We’re sitting under a cool early‑summer pattern: overnight lows in the low 50s, afternoon highs creeping into the low 70s. The wind around Portland is light this morning, generally under 10 knots out of the north, building a bit in the afternoon. Skies are partly cloudy, with just enough overcast early to keep things comfortable. Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., with sunset close to 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got a generous low‑light window on both ends of the day.

The Columbia here isn’t tidal like the estuary, but flows and level are still shifting with snowmelt and dam releases. River level is seasonally high, with a good push of current on the main stem and a little color to the water — not chocolate milk, but enough stain that fish aren’t line‑shy. Side channels and backwaters are clearing faster and running a touch warmer.

Fish activity has been solid but very time‑of‑day dependent. The early morning bite has been best; that first couple of hours after daylight has out‑fished the rest of the day, with another small flurry near dusk. Midday has been slower unless you’re targeting deeper structure.

Recent catches along the Portland reach have been a mixed bag:

- **Chinook and summer steelhead**: Numbers are tapering from the peak, but folks working the travel lanes near the I‑205 and I‑5 bridges are still picking up the occasional hatchery chinook and some early summer steelhead. Trollers running plug‑cut herring behind flashers, or Pro‑Troll style flashers with 3.5 spinners, are doing the damage. Steelhead anglers drifting cured salmon eggs or shrimp under a bobber along current seams have quietly put a few in the box.

- **Walleye**: Consistent producers right now. Deeper holes and drops, 20–40 feet, are giving up good eaters with a few bigger fish. Bottom‑bouncers with worm harnesses in gold, chartreuse, and perch patterns have been hot. For plastics, small paddle‑tails in natural shad or white with a hint of chartreuse, dragged slowly just off bottom, are working.

- **Smallmouth bass**: Very active along rocky banks, riprap, and near‑shore structure from downtown up past Troutdale. Crankbaits in craw and shad patterns, small tubes in green pumpkin, and Ned rigs have been reliable. Early and late, a walking topwater or small popper around shallow rock and current breaks has been drawing explosive strikes.

- **Shad**: If you want steady action, shad runs below the dams and in the main channels are providing plenty of rod‑benders. Small metallic shad darts or tiny spoons in silver, chartreuse, or hot pink, fished just off bottom in the main current, are the ticket.

Best lure and bait choices right now:

- For salmon/steelhead: 3.5 Colorado and spinner blades behind flashers in chartreuse, green, and copper; plug‑cut herring; cured eggs; coon‑stripe shrimp.

- For walleye: bottom‑bouncers with nightcrawlers, smaller blade harnesses, and 3–4 inch soft plastics in natural baitfish colors.

- For bass: 1/4‑oz crankbaits, 3–4 inch tubes, Ned rigs, and small walk‑the‑dog topwaters.

- For shad: small shad darts and spoons, mostly silver with a splash of bright color.

A couple of hot spots to put on your list:

- **Government Island / I‑205 Bridge area**: Good travel lanes for salmon and steelhead, plus nearby structure for walleye and smallmouth. Work the edges of the shipping channel and the drops off the island.

- **Cathedral Park to St. Johns Bridge** in the Willamette mouth zone and lower Columbia interface: current breaks, pilings, and rock hold smallmouth and the odd walleye; trollers also intercept moving salmon when the passage is on.

Focus on first light till the sun gets up, then either go deeper for walleye or tuck into shade and structure for bass. Evenings, slide back shallow and throw reaction baits or topwater.

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This is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River Portland fishing report.

We’re coming off the early morning low, so you’ve got a gentle flood building through mid‑morning and a softer ebb this afternoon. Around Portland, that means improving current lines on the channel edges and inside bends, but nothing too wild. Think “steady push,” not ripping tide — good for both boaters and bank anglers.

Weather’s classic early‑summer mixed bag: cool morning, light wind, then warming into a comfortable afternoon with a northwest breeze. Skies are partly cloudy, enough sun to get the baitfish moving but not so bright that it kills the mid‑day bite. Sunrise was early in the 5 a.m. hour, sunset will land in the 9 p.m. neighborhood, giving you a long window to work the changing light.

Fish activity has picked up nicely. Local reports from tackle shops and boat ramps over the past few days have been showing:

- Decent **spring and early summer Chinook** action in the deeper Columbia channels, with most keepers coming on anchor or slow troll.

- **Walleye** numbers solid below Portland, especially in slower current seams and along the edges of the shipping channel.

- **Smallmouth bass** very active in the sloughs and rocky margins now that water temps are creeping up.

- A mix of **shad** still pushing through, providing steady action on lighter gear.

Chinook catches have been a steady pick rather than a full‑on slugfest: a handful of fish per boat is common when folks stick to the travel lanes and work the tide changes. Walleye reports from the gorge down toward Portland have been in that “good eater” range — plenty of fish, with some nice 20‑plus‑inchers mixed in. Smallmouth counts are almost “as many as you want” if you stay mobile and work structure.

For lures and bait:

- For **Chinook**, locals are leaning on 360 flashers pulling small spin‑fish or Brad‑style super baits packed with tuna, plus classic plug‑cut herring behind a triangle flasher. Chartreuse, chrome, and green‑dot patterns are getting bit. On anchor, Kwikfish or Mag Lips wrapped with sardine are still putting fish in the box.

- For **walleye**, bottom‑bouncer rigs with worm harnesses in silver, gold, and perch patterns are a staple. Soft‑plastic grubs or paddle‑tails on 1/4 to 3/8‑ounce jig heads, tipped with a nightcrawler, are knocking out fish on the edges.

- For **smallmouth**, it’s hard to beat a 3–4 inch green pumpkin tube, Ned rig, or small swimbait. Early and late, topwater walkers and poppers around riprap and wood are getting crushed.

- **Shad** are predictable: small Dick Nite‑style spoons and tiny darts in chartreuse, pink, or silver, fished mid‑column in the current.

A couple of local hot spots to circle:

- **Government Island / I‑205 to I‑5 stretch**: Good travel lane for Chinook in the main channel, plus solid walleye on the drops and smallmouth on the rocky shorelines and wing dams.

- **Multnomah Channel**: A great option when the main river gets busy or windy. Chinook still filter through here, and there’s consistent action for bass along docks and pilings, with occasional walleye in the deeper bends.

Work the first couple hours of the flood for Chinook and walleye, then slide shallower for smallmouth as the sun gets up. Evening tide turns can surprise you with a late Chinook or a quick walleye flurry, especially if that northwest wind lays down.

That’s the Columbia River Portland report from Artificial Lure.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River fishing report for the Portland stretch.

We’re sitting on a cool, mostly dry pattern this morning around town. National Weather Service Portland calls for clouds with a few sun breaks, light northwest breeze 5–10 mph, and highs pushing into the upper 60s to low 70s. That light wind and overcast is prime for working the river edges. Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., sunset near 9:00 p.m., giving you a long low‑light window at both ends of the day.

The Columbia isn’t a big coastal estuary here, but NOAA’s river stage info shows only mild tidal influence this far upriver. Think gentle up‑and‑down current swings rather than big tide rips. Plan on softer current and better boat control mid‑day, with a little extra push during the morning and evening exchange. That’s when bait and predators tuck tight to seams, points, and pilings.

Fish activity has been steady but not lights‑out. Local reports from tackle shops along Marine Drive and in Troutdale say the tail end of the spring Chinook push is still producing a few quality fish, while summer steelhead and warm‑water species are picking up. Anglers working the main channel near the I‑205 bridge and down toward Government Island have scratched out some springers and early summers on the anchor. Meanwhile, bank anglers and small‑boat folks are seeing good numbers of smallmouth and a mix of walleyes and panfish in the softer water.

On the salmonid side, most of the recent keepers have come on classic Columbia gear: 360 flashers with small 3.5 spinners in chartreuse, copper, or clown patterns; or cut‑plug herring and anchovy behind a triangle flasher. Pro‑Cure‑style herring or anchovy brine and a little UV scent have been the difference between lookers and biters more than once this week, according to several local guides. Fish the travel lanes: 18–28 feet on the edges of the shipping channel, paying attention to subtle depth breaks and current seams.

Summer steelhead are starting to nosing around the lower Portland reach. Plunkers off beaches near Sauvie Island and along the Washington side have picked off a few on Spin‑N‑Glos with a bit of coon‑stripe shrimp or sand shrimp. Run bright colors early—chartreuse/cerise or flame—and slide to more natural chrome/blue when the sun gets high.

For warm‑water action, the smallmouth bite has been the most consistent producer. Rocks, riprap, and any kind of broken structure from the mouth of the Willamette down past Blue Lake and out toward Chinook Landing have been kicking out numbers of 10–15 inch bronzebacks, with an occasional bigger fish. Ned rigs in green pumpkin, 3–4 inch tubes in brown or goby tones, and small squarebill crankbaits in shad patterns have all been doing damage. When the sun pops out and the surface warms, topwater walkers and poppers can light up the late evening—think bone or frog patterns along rocky points and current breaks.

Walleyes are still very much in play, especially in deeper holes and along shelf edges. Bottom‑bouncers with crawler harnesses in chartreuse or firetiger are the go‑to. Slow‑troll those upstream just fast enough to keep the blade spinning and you’ll run into eaters. Some folks are also catching them incidentally while dragging jigs for smallies.

If you’re after numbers with kids or new anglers, hit the backwaters and sloughs for panfish. Nightcrawlers under a float, small jigs tipped with bits of worm, or tiny curly tails will keep rods bending around docks and in the quieter marinas.

Couple of hot spots to circle today:

• **Government Island / I‑205 to Gleason area** – Good mix of salmon travel lanes and solid smallmouth structure. Work 18–30 feet for salmon on anchor or troll, then slide shallow and pound the rocks for bass when the sun gets higher.

• **Sauvie Island beaches and the mouth of the Willamette** – Plunk for early summer steelhead and late springers, or run the edges for smallmouth. The current seams along those bars can be sneaky good when the river’s moving.

Best all‑around offerings right now: for salmon and steelhead, 360 flashers with 3.5 spinners, cut‑plug herring, or Spin‑N‑Glos with shrimp; for bass and walleye, Ned rigs, tubes, small cranks, and crawler harnesses. Bring a mix and adjust to the water clarity and light.

That’s the

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This is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River Portland fishing report.

We’re working a cool, stable early‑June pattern on the big river. Overnight temps dipped into the low 50s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s this afternoon with light northwest wind and just a slight breeze funneling up the gorge. Skies are mostly clear with some high clouds rolling through. Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., with sunset close to 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got a long, workable window of low‑light feeding time at both ends of the day.

The Columbia here is more flow‑driven than tide‑driven, but you still feel the coastal push. Expect a softer, “slack‑ish” period mid‑morning and again late afternoon that makes it easier to keep gear down and in the zone. The river is running a little high and colored with snowmelt, but visibility has improved to a couple feet in many main‑stem edges and inside seams.

Fish activity has been solid. Local reports from the Portland stretch down to St. Helens say steelhead and a few late spring Chinook are still trickling through, with most folks now pivoting to summer steelhead, shad, and warm‑water species. Bank anglers have been picking off shad in decent numbers on the Oregon side, and boaters are finding pods out in 15–25 feet on the edges of the main current. Walleye catches upriver of Portland have been good, especially on the Washington side along drop‑offs and rock breaks. Bass in the sloughs and backwaters are active around reeds, wood, and riprap when the sun gets up.

For salmon and steelhead, think hardware with some thump and color. Spinners in size 3–5 with chartreuse, flame orange, or copper blades, as well as metallic pinks in the softer water, are getting bit. Small wobbling plugs in green‑chrome, clown, or classic chrome‑blue do well in that 8–15 foot travel lane off the main current. If you’re running bait, cured coon‑stripe shrimp and sand shrimp behind a small spin‑n‑glo are still a go‑to for steelhead in travel slots and behind points.

Shad are almost a numbers game. Light gear, 1/16–1/8 ounce shad darts, tiny spoons, or crappie jigs in chartreuse, hot pink, or white will keep rods bent once you’re on them. Let your offerings swing in the current with just enough weight to tap bottom.

For walleye, slow and close to bottom is the ticket. Bottom‑bouncers with nightcrawlers on spinner rigs in chartreuse, orange, or gold are producing, especially in 18–35 feet along breaks and current seams. Jigging soft plastics or hair jigs in muted perch, goby, or plain white also works when the fish are belly‑down on the structure.

Bass in the sloughs and marinas are chewing soft plastics and reaction baits. Weightless stickbaits in green pumpkin, small swimbaits, and squarebill crankbaits banged off riprap are reliable. Early and late, topwater walkers and poppers over weed edges and along shade lines can turn up some quality fish.

A couple of hot spots to keep in mind:

- The mouth of the Willamette down through Cathedral Park and into the main Columbia current seams has been giving up mixed bags of shad, the odd steelhead, and some early‑season warm‑water fish tight to structure.

- The stretch from Kelley Point down toward Sauvie Island and across to the Washington side has been a steady producer for shad and walleye, with subtle contour changes and rock edges worth probing carefully.

Water’s still cold enough to demand respect. Wear a PFD, watch that afternoon wind chop, and give working boats plenty of room.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River fishing report around Portland.

We’re sitting in a classic late‑spring pattern. A cool marine push overnight has temps starting in the low 50s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s this afternoon with a light west breeze. Skies are mostly cloudy early, breaking to sun by midday, with only a slight chance of a light shower sliding through. Barometer is steady to slowly falling, just enough change to keep fish moving rather than sulking.

Sunrise is right around 5:20 a.m., with sunset about 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got a long fishable window. That early low‑light period and the last hour before dark are absolutely prime; mid‑day bite will taper unless you work deeper current seams and structure.

Down at the I‑5 stretch and into the Multnomah Channel, folks have been picking up a modest mix of late spring Chinook and some summer steelhead, with a few keeper sturgeon coming from deeper slots. Recent dock talk has most boats scratching out 0–2 salmon, with the better rods getting into fish by staying mobile and working multiple travel lanes. Steelhead counts are still building, but a handful of bright fish are showing close to the Oregon shore.

Smallmouth bass action has been very solid in the sloughs and along riprap from the Portland Harbor down toward St. Helens. Anglers working 5–15 feet are reporting double‑digit days when they hit the timing right, mostly 10–14 inch fish with the occasional chunky 18‑incher. Panfish are thick in the back bays, great if you’ve got kids aboard.

Tidewise, that Portland reach gets a muted but important push. Expect a morning flood backing the current off and an afternoon ebb giving you that nice traveling‑lane speed. Plan salmon trolling to intersect the start and end of those swings: when the river just begins to slow or just starts to pick up, fish tend to slide into predictable lanes.

As for what’s working:

- For Chinook: run herring or anchovies behind 11‑inch flashers on 16–24 ounces of lead in 18–35 feet of water. Green‑and‑chrome and chartreuse patterns are still the staples. If you prefer hardware, spinners with chartreuse or copper blades and a bit of UV tape are getting bit.

- For summer steelhead: 3.5 spinners in pink, copper, or chartreuse, trolled a bit faster along the Oregon side. Plugs like Mag Lips in metallic greens and pinks do well on the anchor in softer edges.

- For sturgeon: sand shrimp, smelt, and squid strips on stout gear. Focus on 40–70 foot depressions at the edge of the main channel when the tide is not ripping.

- For bass: this is a perfect morning for topwater and moving baits. Small walking baits, poppers, and buzzbaits along rocky banks at first light, then 3–4 inch soft‑plastic tubes, Ned rigs, and small swimbaits once the sun is up. Green pumpkin, brown, and baitfish colors are your go‑tos.

A couple of hot spots to consider:

- The stretch from Goble down to Kalama: strong chance at a mixed bag of late springers and early summer steelhead on the troll, plus good smallmouth along the shoreline rock.

- The Government Island area and nearby sloughs: great for bass and panfish with the possibility of a steelhead sliding through the nearby main channel.

Water clarity is decent with a typical spring stain; enough color that fish aren’t too line‑shy, but you still want some flash and vibration in your offering. With the long day length, staying patient and keying in on those tidal turns will make the difference between a slow day and a fish box that looks respectable at the ramp.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River fishing report around Portland.

We’re sliding into a stable late-spring pattern now. Along the Portland stretch, the river’s running a little colored but fishable, with decent visibility on the main channel and cleaner water in the side bays and sloughs. Flows have eased off enough that working ledges and current breaks is back on the menu.

According to the National Weather Service Portland, we’re looking at a mild, mostly dry day: light morning clouds, then breaks of sun, highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, and a light west to northwest breeze building in the afternoon. Winds pick up downriver first, so plan your open-water trolling for the morning and tuck into the islands or inside bends later.

Sunrise came early, just after 5:20 a.m., with sunset expected a bit after 9 p.m., giving you a long low-light window at both ends of the day. Those first and last two hours of light are your best bet for shallow feeders along riprap and flats.

Tidal influence in Portland is mild but real. NOAA’s station at Vancouver shows a morning high pushing through mid-morning, easing to a lower stage by late afternoon. On the Columbia here, that translates to slightly softer currents and a subtle push-back on the inside bends around the tide turns. Fish those transition periods hard: slackish seams, eddies behind pilings, and the downstream side of islands.

Recent catch chatter from local anglers’ reports and tackle shops up and down Marine Drive has been solid:

- Spring chinook and a few early summer chinook are still showing, mostly below the I-205 bridge and down toward Caterpillar Island, with fish taken on herring and spinner rigs behind Pro-Troll flashers.

- Walleye action has been very good in the deeper slots and wing-dam edges, particularly out toward Camas and downriver toward the mouth of the Willamette.

- Smallmouth bass are post-spawn and chewing, especially along rocky banks and marina edges.

- Shad numbers are strong, stacked in the faster lanes near the I-205 and Glenn Jackson bridges.

Best offerings today:

- For chinook: plug-cut herring or anchovy on a 5–6 ft leader behind a rotating flasher, trolled downstream just off bottom. Chartreuse/green or blue chrome blades are producing. Spinners with copper or 50/50 blades also taking fish when the sun’s higher.

- For walleye: bottom bouncers with nightcrawler harnesses in chartreuse, perch, or watermelon patterns; also jigging soft plastics in natural shad colors when current eases.

- For smallmouth: 3–4 inch green pumpkin or brown tubes, Ned rigs, and small crankbaits in craw or shad patterns tossed tight to rock and wood.

- For shad: 1/16–1/8 oz shad darts or small spoons in hot pink, chartreuse, or silver, swung through the faster lanes.

Couple of local hot spots to circle on your mental map:

- The stretch around Government Island, especially the downstream points, drop-offs into the main channel, and the inside bays. Good mix of chinook, walleye, and smallmouth with plenty of current breaks.

- The mouth of the Willamette and down toward the St. Johns Bridge, where mixing currents stack bait and salmon, plus plenty of bass along the industrial riprap.

Conditions are lining up for a classic Portland Columbia day: manageable wind, long light, and fish spread from the shoreline rocks out to the main river slots. Keep your offerings near bottom for salmon and walleye, go lighter and tighter to structure for bass, and work the tide turns and low light for your best shot at a limit.

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Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River Portland fishing report.

We’re sitting under a cool late‑spring pattern: morning temps in the low 50s, climbing into the upper 60s to low 70s by afternoon, light west breeze, and mostly clear skies with some high clouds drifting through. Local weather outlets are calling for stable barometric pressure and no significant rain, which usually means decent mid‑day bites, especially once that sun warms the top few feet of water.

Sunrise comes in a little after 5:20 a.m. with sunset just before 9:00 p.m., so you’ve got a long window to work those early and late low‑light bites. Civil twilight stretches that even more, so being set up 30–40 minutes before first light is worth it.

Out here near Portland, the Columbia is essentially a big, slow reservoir with only mild tidal influence this far upriver, but the online tide tables for the lower river still show a gentle morning ebb turning toward slack late morning, then a soft flood pushing in through the afternoon. Even up here, you’ll notice subtle changes in current seams and how the fish set up on edges when the main river flow “relaxes” a bit.

Fish activity has been mixed but improving. Local reports from tackle shops and angler chatter say a few late spring Chinook are still trickling through, but the primary action has shifted to summer steelhead, shad, and resident smallmouth bass. Bankies are still picking up shad in good numbers on the deeper swing lines, and boaters are finding pods of fish stacked off the current breaks. Smallmouth are waking up in force on rocky breaks and mid‑depth flats; expect a consistent bite once the sun is up and the rocks warm.

Recent catches have been something like this: shad in the “can’t‑count‑’em” category on good days, with boats reporting dozens in a morning when they stay on a pod; smallmouth from 10–14 inches common with a few chunky 2–3 pounders; steelhead a bit spotty but present, often a fish or two per serious boat that focuses on them. Sturgeon catch‑and‑release has been steady in the deeper channels for those soaking bait.

Best lures and baits right now:

- For shad: tiny **Dick Nite‑style spoons**, small bright **shad darts**, and **micro crappie jigs** in chartreuse, hot pink, or silver. Run them just off bottom in 12–20 feet on a three‑way or slider rig and let the current do the work.

- For smallmouth: **3–4" soft plastic grubs**, **tubes**, and **Ned rigs** in green pumpkin, brown, or goby tones are money on the rocks. In the afternoons, shallow crankbaits and small squarebills ticking riprap can light up a reaction bite. If the wind slicks off near evening, subtle topwaters like **walking baits** or small poppers fished over rocky points can draw some explosive hits.

- For steelhead/springers: smaller **spinners** in copper, brass, or chartreuse/green, and **plugs** or **spinners behind a diver** trolled through travel lanes. Folks running **prawn spinners** or cured **coho‑style shrimp** under divers are still scratching out some quality fish.

- For sturgeon: **sand shrimp**, **smelt**, and **squid strips** laid in the deeper holes, focusing on edges where the current softens.

Couple of hotspots to think about:

- **Government Island area**: The seams, drops, and rocky points around the island have been producing solid smallmouth action and some incidental steelhead. Work the east and west ends where main current meets softer water, especially mid‑morning as the sun climbs.

- **Cathedral Park / St. Johns Bridge stretch**: Known for strong shad numbers and mixed species. Target the deeper lanes for shad and steelhead traveling, and the adjacent riprap and pilings for smallmouth. The bridge pilings can concentrate bait and gamefish when current ticks along.

Another honorable mention is the **mouth of the Willamette** where it joins the Columbia. Current breaks and temperature lines here often gather steelhead and the last of the springers; trollers running plugs or spinners at different depths can find fish moving through.

Water clarity is generally decent, maybe a touch of color from upstream snowmelt and runoff, which actually helps—fish feel a bit less pressured. Fluorocarbon leaders in the 8–12 lb range for bass and shad, heavier for steelhead and sturgeon, keep you in the game without being too shy.

That’s

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