Columbia River Portland Fishing Report Today

Columbia River Portland Fishing Report Today

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Columbia River Portland Fishing Report Today episodes

  • Columbia River Fishing Forecast: Shad, Bass, and Walleye Abound in Early Summer
    Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River Portland fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.
    We’re off to a classic early summer start on the Columbia. Sunrise this morning hit at 5:22 a.m., with sunset coming at 9:02 p.m., giving us a long window to wet a line. The skies over Portland today are overcast, temps hovering in the high 60s to low 70s, and a south breeze picking up by midmorning. According to the latest tidal charts, expect a substantial morning incoming tide, peaking just after 9 a.m.—prime time for targeting most species, especially shad, bass, and sturgeon in the metro section.
    The shad run is firing on all cylinders, with schools thick below Bonneville and all the way down to St. Helens. Plenty of boats are reporting fast action—think double-digit catches per rod, especially at hot spots like the Willamette-Columbia confluence and Meldrum Bar. Chartreuse and silver shad darts or small spoons are still the top picks—don’t be afraid to move until you land on a school, as these fish will be stacked in fast water seams.
    Walleye fishing is another bright spot, especially up around the John Day Pool, but closer to Portland the Multnomah Channel and mouth of the Willamette are dependable. Drifting nightcrawlers on a worm harness or trolling deep-diving crankbaits in perch or firetiger patterns is producing limits for persistent anglers.
    Bass anglers are having a heyday with the river warming up. Smallmouths are actively chasing shad, so swim baits that mimic young shad, like Keitech FAT Swing Impact in Smallmouth Magic or Ghost Rainbow, are putting up big numbers. Early morning topwater—think Whopper Ploppers and poppers—are getting explosive strikes along rocky ledges and outside weed beds from Hayden Island down to Sauvie Island. Twenty to fifty fish per day is not uncommon if you stay mobile and work the structure.
    Chinook retention is closed for adults in the Portland stretch this summer due to a low forecast, but hatchery jacks are open and showing up in small numbers, mostly up around the airport and Troutdale. If you target steelhead, remember regulations allow only one hatchery fish per day right now, but a few bright hatchery fish have been caught this week. Best bets are drift fishing cured salmon eggs or shrimp under a slip bobber in the fast runs near the mouth of the Sandy and Lewis rivers, or trolling small spinners (blue and silver, or orange and gold) in the main river.
    For bait, steelheaders are scoring with cured salmon eggs, sand shrimp, and occasionally nightcrawlers, especially when fished at first light or just before dusk as the sun gets low over the west hills.
    If you’re looking to maximize the action, hot spots today are the rocky shorelines below the I-205 bridge for smallmouth, the shad lanes below the Willamette mouth, and Meldrum Bar for a shot at both shad and early steelhead.
    Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of river intel. This has been a Quiet Please pr
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    4 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Forecast: Shad, Bass, and Walleye Abound in Early Summer
    Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River Portland fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.
    We’re off to a classic early summer start on the Columbia. Sunrise this morning hit at 5:22 a.m., with sunset coming at 9:02 p.m., giving us a long window to wet a line. The skies over Portland today are overcast, temps hovering in the high 60s to low 70s, and a south breeze picking up by midmorning. According to the latest tidal charts, expect a substantial morning incoming tide, peaking just after 9 a.m.—prime time for targeting most species, especially shad, bass, and sturgeon in the metro section.
    The shad run is firing on all cylinders, with schools thick below Bonneville and all the way down to St. Helens. Plenty of boats are reporting fast action—think double-digit catches per rod, especially at hot spots like the Willamette-Columbia confluence and Meldrum Bar. Chartreuse and silver shad darts or small spoons are still the top picks—don’t be afraid to move until you land on a school, as these fish will be stacked in fast water seams.
    Walleye fishing is another bright spot, especially up around the John Day Pool, but closer to Portland the Multnomah Channel and mouth of the Willamette are dependable. Drifting nightcrawlers on a worm harness or trolling deep-diving crankbaits in perch or firetiger patterns is producing limits for persistent anglers.
    Bass anglers are having a heyday with the river warming up. Smallmouths are actively chasing shad, so swim baits that mimic young shad, like Keitech FAT Swing Impact in Smallmouth Magic or Ghost Rainbow, are putting up big numbers. Early morning topwater—think Whopper Ploppers and poppers—are getting explosive strikes along rocky ledges and outside weed beds from Hayden Island down to Sauvie Island. Twenty to fifty fish per day is not uncommon if you stay mobile and work the structure.
    Chinook retention is closed for adults in the Portland stretch this summer due to a low forecast, but hatchery jacks are open and showing up in small numbers, mostly up around the airport and Troutdale. If you target steelhead, remember regulations allow only one hatchery fish per day right now, but a few bright hatchery fish have been caught this week. Best bets are drift fishing cured salmon eggs or shrimp under a slip bobber in the fast runs near the mouth of the Sandy and Lewis rivers, or trolling small spinners (blue and silver, or orange and gold) in the main river.
    For bait, steelheaders are scoring with cured salmon eggs, sand shrimp, and occasionally nightcrawlers, especially when fished at first light or just before dusk as the sun gets low over the west hills.
    If you’re looking to maximize the action, hot spots today are the rocky shorelines below the I-205 bridge for smallmouth, the shad lanes below the Willamette mouth, and Meldrum Bar for a shot at both shad and early steelhead.
    Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of river intel. This has been a Quiet Please pr
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    5 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Forecast: Shad, Bass, and Walleye Abound in Early Summer
    Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River Portland fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.
    We’re off to a classic early summer start on the Columbia. Sunrise this morning hit at 5:22 a.m., with sunset coming at 9:02 p.m., giving us a long window to wet a line. The skies over Portland today are overcast, temps hovering in the high 60s to low 70s, and a south breeze picking up by midmorning. According to the latest tidal charts, expect a substantial morning incoming tide, peaking just after 9 a.m.—prime time for targeting most species, especially shad, bass, and sturgeon in the metro section.
    The shad run is firing on all cylinders, with schools thick below Bonneville and all the way down to St. Helens. Plenty of boats are reporting fast action—think double-digit catches per rod, especially at hot spots like the Willamette-Columbia confluence and Meldrum Bar. Chartreuse and silver shad darts or small spoons are still the top picks—don’t be afraid to move until you land on a school, as these fish will be stacked in fast water seams.
    Walleye fishing is another bright spot, especially up around the John Day Pool, but closer to Portland the Multnomah Channel and mouth of the Willamette are dependable. Drifting nightcrawlers on a worm harness or trolling deep-diving crankbaits in perch or firetiger patterns is producing limits for persistent anglers.
    Bass anglers are having a heyday with the river warming up. Smallmouths are actively chasing shad, so swim baits that mimic young shad, like Keitech FAT Swing Impact in Smallmouth Magic or Ghost Rainbow, are putting up big numbers. Early morning topwater—think Whopper Ploppers and poppers—are getting explosive strikes along rocky ledges and outside weed beds from Hayden Island down to Sauvie Island. Twenty to fifty fish per day is not uncommon if you stay mobile and work the structure.
    Chinook retention is closed for adults in the Portland stretch this summer due to a low forecast, but hatchery jacks are open and showing up in small numbers, mostly up around the airport and Troutdale. If you target steelhead, remember regulations allow only one hatchery fish per day right now, but a few bright hatchery fish have been caught this week. Best bets are drift fishing cured salmon eggs or shrimp under a slip bobber in the fast runs near the mouth of the Sandy and Lewis rivers, or trolling small spinners (blue and silver, or orange and gold) in the main river.
    For bait, steelheaders are scoring with cured salmon eggs, sand shrimp, and occasionally nightcrawlers, especially when fished at first light or just before dusk as the sun gets low over the west hills.
    If you’re looking to maximize the action, hot spots today are the rocky shorelines below the I-205 bridge for smallmouth, the shad lanes below the Willamette mouth, and Meldrum Bar for a shot at both shad and early steelhead.
    Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of river intel. This has been a Quiet Please pr
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    5 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Forecast: Shad, Bass, and Walleye Abound in Early Summer
    Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River Portland fishing report for Saturday, June 21, 2025.
    We’re off to a classic early summer start on the Columbia. Sunrise this morning hit at 5:22 a.m., with sunset coming at 9:02 p.m., giving us a long window to wet a line. The skies over Portland today are overcast, temps hovering in the high 60s to low 70s, and a south breeze picking up by midmorning. According to the latest tidal charts, expect a substantial morning incoming tide, peaking just after 9 a.m.—prime time for targeting most species, especially shad, bass, and sturgeon in the metro section.
    The shad run is firing on all cylinders, with schools thick below Bonneville and all the way down to St. Helens. Plenty of boats are reporting fast action—think double-digit catches per rod, especially at hot spots like the Willamette-Columbia confluence and Meldrum Bar. Chartreuse and silver shad darts or small spoons are still the top picks—don’t be afraid to move until you land on a school, as these fish will be stacked in fast water seams.
    Walleye fishing is another bright spot, especially up around the John Day Pool, but closer to Portland the Multnomah Channel and mouth of the Willamette are dependable. Drifting nightcrawlers on a worm harness or trolling deep-diving crankbaits in perch or firetiger patterns is producing limits for persistent anglers.
    Bass anglers are having a heyday with the river warming up. Smallmouths are actively chasing shad, so swim baits that mimic young shad, like Keitech FAT Swing Impact in Smallmouth Magic or Ghost Rainbow, are putting up big numbers. Early morning topwater—think Whopper Ploppers and poppers—are getting explosive strikes along rocky ledges and outside weed beds from Hayden Island down to Sauvie Island. Twenty to fifty fish per day is not uncommon if you stay mobile and work the structure.
    Chinook retention is closed for adults in the Portland stretch this summer due to a low forecast, but hatchery jacks are open and showing up in small numbers, mostly up around the airport and Troutdale. If you target steelhead, remember regulations allow only one hatchery fish per day right now, but a few bright hatchery fish have been caught this week. Best bets are drift fishing cured salmon eggs or shrimp under a slip bobber in the fast runs near the mouth of the Sandy and Lewis rivers, or trolling small spinners (blue and silver, or orange and gold) in the main river.
    For bait, steelheaders are scoring with cured salmon eggs, sand shrimp, and occasionally nightcrawlers, especially when fished at first light or just before dusk as the sun gets low over the west hills.
    If you’re looking to maximize the action, hot spots today are the rocky shorelines below the I-205 bridge for smallmouth, the shad lanes below the Willamette mouth, and Meldrum Bar for a shot at both shad and early steelhead.
    Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe for your daily dose of river intel. This has been a Quiet Please pr
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    4 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Report - June 20, 2025: Chinook, Steelhead, Walleye, and Sturgeon Action
    Artificial Lure coming to you with today’s Columbia River fishing report for Portland, Friday, June 20, 2025.
    We’re rolling into that early summer groove, with the summer season officially underway as of June 16. The weather today is looking like a classic Pacific Northwest June morning—expect mild temps in the low 60s at sunrise, with highs pushing to the mid-70s by afternoon. Skies should be partly cloudy, and there’s just a light breeze out of the northwest. Sunrise hit us early at 5:22 a.m. and you’ll have daylight all the way to sunset at 9:03 p.m.
    The tide is outgoing this morning and will bottom out mid-morning, swinging back in around noon for a strong afternoon incoming tide—prime conditions for anything from shad to walleye.
    We’re on the tail end of the spring Chinook run, but don’t hang it up—the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife confirms summer seasons are now open. Retention of jack hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead started up June 16 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge all the way upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, Washington. With a lower than average summer Chinook forecast, adult retention is closed below Priest Rapids Dam, so make sure you’re dialed into current regs—no sense getting pinched this early in the season. Also, hatchery steelhead can be kept through July 31 with a reduced bag limit of just one fish per day in this stretch.
    Anglers are reporting solid walleye action in the John Day Pool, which tends to translate to decent walleye activity in Portland’s stretch of river too. According to Captain Experiences, sturgeon fishing has been fantastic lately, with many groups landing multiple fish per trip—check above the Willamette confluence for your best shot at a keeper.
    Shad are running strong in the lower river and the bite is picking up. Use bright-colored darts or spoons—silver and chartreuse are especially hot this week. For walleye, stick to fire tiger or perch-patterned crankbaits bounced along drop-offs, or try plastics on a jighead in deeper slots.
    Chinook and steelhead chasers are having the best luck with prawn spinners or cut plug herring, especially on the incoming tide. Don’t overlook fresh sand shrimp for steelhead. Early bird gets the worm, so hit those riffles and current seams at first light. For bank anglers, try the stretch around Cathedral Park or Sauvie Island for access and plenty of room.
    Two hotspots to pin on your map: the mouth of the Willamette River, just downstream from Kelly Point, and the waters around Government Island. Both have been producing a mix of shad, the occasional late Chinook, and plenty of willing sturgeon.
    That covers it for today’s action. Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to subscribe for your daily fishing fix. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    4 min
  • Columbia River Heats Up with Shad, Walleye, and Summer Salmon
    Artificial Lure here, bringing you today’s Columbia River fishing report for Portland, June 18, 2025.
    We’re rolling into the summer season, and that means some big changes on the Columbia. According to the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, shad are running strong through the lower river and anglers are hooking up left and right. If you haven’t had a chance to chase shad this year, now is prime time. Small gold or silver spoons and darts are the go-to lures—these fish hit light gear hard, providing some of the best action you’ll find in June.
    Walleye fishing is lighting up in the John Day Pool, and there’s solid word of excellent catches from the Portland stretch up through The Dalles. Target them with chartreuse jigs tipped with nightcrawler or soft plastic grubs. Early mornings are king, especially from sunrise at 5:22 a.m. until the bite slows by late morning. Sunset will hit at 9:01 p.m., giving you a long window to get lines in the water.
    Big news for salmon and steelhead hunters—summer hatchery Chinook and steelhead retention is now open as of June 16, from the Astoria-Megler Bridge all the way to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco. However, with a lower summer Chinook forecast this year, retention below Priest Rapids Dam is closed for adult Chinook, so check your regs before heading out. Still, you can keep hatchery jacks and steelhead. The steelhead runs are on the light side, so the bag limit is one fish, and you’ll want to focus on early morning or just after tide change for the best shot.
    Speaking of tides, today you’ll see a moderate incoming tide this morning, peaking around mid-morning and a dropping tide by early afternoon. According to Spreaker’s Columbia River, Portland Daily Fishing Report podcast, this should put shad and sturgeon in feeding mode near the mouth of the Willamette and up near the St. John’s Bridge.
    Recent catches in and around Portland have been dominated by shad, sturgeon, and a handful of springers. According to Captain Experiences, sturgeon fishing continues to be hot—catch-and-release only, but the action has been steady up around the Oregon City stretch. For sturgeon, fresh-smelt or sand shrimp are top baits. Spring Chinook are tapering off, but a few are still coming in downriver near the airport and Scappoose.
    Hot spots to check out today: the mouth of the Willamette for shad, and the Portland Harbor up to the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Site for walleye and sturgeon. The bank fishing at Kelley Point Park is another excellent bet for multi-species action, especially on the incoming tide.
    Temps today should hover in the low 70s with overcast skies and light rain possible by the afternoon—perfect conditions to keep fish active shallow, so don’t be afraid to work those shallow flats early and late.
    Thanks for tuning in to the Columbia River fishing report, and don’t forget to subscribe. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    5 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Report June 6, 2025: Shad Running Strong, Summer Seasons Open, Sockeye Forecast Down
    # Columbia River Fishing Report - June 6, 2025
    Good morning, anglers! Artificial Lure here with your Friday fishing report for the Columbia River around Portland.
    The big news this week is that shad are running strong through the lower Columbia and the fishing is really picking up. If you haven't gotten out there yet, now's your chance to fill those coolers!
    The water's warming up nicely, and we're seeing some decent action. The States just had a hearing on Wednesday, June 4th, and they've adopted more recreational spring Chinook opportunities, so check the fishing regulation update page for all those juicy details before you head out.
    For those planning ahead, mark your calendars - summer seasons open June 16th. You'll be able to keep jack hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead from the Astoria-Megler Bridge all the way up to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco. Just remember, with the low summer Chinook forecast of only 38,000 adults this year, adult Chinook retention will be closed in summer season fisheries downstream of Priest Rapids Dam.
    Speaking of forecasts, sockeye numbers are expected to hit around 350,200 fish, which is down from last year's monster return of more than 760,000. Still plenty of fish, but not the record we enjoyed last year.
    We've been seeing spring salmon showing up in catches around Portland International Airport and downriver. Some coho are also being caught in the Scappoose area, so don't count those silver bullets out.
    For you sturgeon chasers, keep your ears open for updates on the January 2025 keeper sturgeon season in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools. Those seasons tend to fill up quick.
    Best spots this weekend? I'd try around the Hood River area where the action has been consistent. If you're staying closer to Portland, the Airport area has been producing, though reports say it's been a bit spotty. With the recent rain, we should see a fresh push of spring Chinook.
    Lure-wise, you can't go wrong with a simple spinner for shad. For the springers, try wrapped Kwikfish or herring. If you're bait fishing, sand shrimp and eggs have been working well.
    Tides today are favorable for morning fishing, so get out early. Sunrise was at 5:23 this morning, and we'll have sunset at 8:57 tonight, giving you plenty of daylight to work those honey holes.
    Thanks for tuning in, folks! Make sure you subscribe for weekly reports and insider tips on the best fishing the Columbia has to offer. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    3 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Update: Record Spring Chinook Run & Hot Spots for Walleye, Shad
    # Columbia River Fishing Report: June 1, 2025
    Good morning, anglers! This is Artificial Lure coming at you with today's fishing report for the Columbia River around Portland.
    The spring Chinook season is still going strong, folks! The upriver spring Chinook return is meeting expectations with the preseason forecast of 122,500 fish holding steady. That's better than last year's return, which has us guides pretty excited.
    Today's tide at Wauna on the Columbia shows a low tide at 2:19 AM measuring 1.68 ft, followed by a high tide later this morning. For those heading out to Point Adams, expect similar tidal movements. These tide changes should create some good feeding opportunities, especially during the transition periods.
    Sunrise was at 5:35 AM with sunset expected around 8:45 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to get those lines wet.
    The salmon fishing near Portland has been a bit spotty lately, but don't let that discourage you. The fishing remains good overall in the Columbia River, with the Gorge area being particularly productive. Coho action has picked up with quite a few being caught in the Scappoose area.
    For those targeting sturgeon, retention is closed below Bonneville Dam, but catch-and-release fishing has been decent. Recent reports show anglers releasing both sub-legal and over-legal sized sturgeon.
    Walleye fishing has been on fire in the John Day Pool, with boats reporting substantial catches. Last week, anglers kept 155 walleye and released another 103 from just 10 boats.
    Don't forget about shad! They're running strong through the lower Columbia right now, and the action is picking up daily.
    For tackle, I recommend using K15 Kwikfish wrapped with sardine fillets for spring Chinook. Herring is also working well, especially in the early mornings. If you're after walleye, try bottom walkers with nightcrawlers or jigs tipped with worms in that 20-30 foot depth range.
    Hot spots for today include:
    - Hood River area for salmon (my personal favorite right now)
    - Scappoose for coho
    - John Day Pool for walleye enthusiasts
    - Below Bonneville for shad action
    Health advisory reminder: Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for parts of the Columbia due to mercury and PCB levels, so be mindful about how many you keep for the table.
    Thanks for tuning in to today's report! If you're looking to get out on the water but don't have a boat, I'm running guided trips all week. Give me a call at 503-314-5087 to book your spot.
    Don't forget to subscribe for daily fishing updates from the Columbia River. This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    4 min
  • The Columbia Catch: Springers, Shad, and Sturgeon Bite for May 31, 2025
    Fishing report for the Columbia River in and around Portland, Saturday, May 31st, 2025. It’s Artificial Lure here—let’s break it down for all you river rats and salmon chasers.
    Weather’s looking classic Portland: clouds early, a shot of sun by midday, then a slight southwest breeze. Keep an eye out for some drizzle. Water temps have been holding steady, so fish should stay active, especially during those tide swings.
    Tides today are in your favor if you plan it right. Low tide kicks off at 6:36am, high tide follows at 9:41am, another low at 7:33pm, and if you’re a true night owl, you’ve got a late high at 11:41pm. Sunrise was at 5:25am, and sunset won’t be until 8:51pm, so there’s a full day of action ahead—prime windows for that early and late bite, especially if you’re swinging for salmon or shad according to the Portland tide chart.
    Spring Chinook are still the main ticket. The run is better than last year, with a forecast of 122,500 upriver springers, giving everyone a decent shot at a solid catch. Recent ODFW data shows boat anglers in the Troutdale stretch putting 20 Chinook and six jacks on the deck just this week, with more kept from Portland down to Warrior Rock and beyond. Bank action’s been spotty but persistent—most bankies are putting in the hours around Warrior Rock and into the Gorge, hoping for that chrome flash.
    Shad are running strong through the lower river. Weekly checks confirmed nearly 200 shad for just 54 bank anglers below Bonneville, so if you’re looking for fast-paced action or bait for sturgeon, break out the shad darts and light tackle.
    Speaking of sturgeon, those sneaky dinosaurs are active in the lower Willamette and Columbia, especially as the water warms. Catch-and-release is the way to go, but the tug is the drug if you’re itching for a fight.
    Hot spots for the day:
    - Davis Bar, just below Vancouver, continues to offer up springers with less pressure than the city stretches.
    - The mouth of the Multnomah Channel and up toward Oregon City—these spots are drawing salmon as they nose into the Willamette.
    - For shad, swing by Bonneville or the deeper runs between Rainier and Longview.
    Best lures and baits: For Chinook, try herring or anchovies behind a flasher, or go with a red-label herring plug-cut for the early morning bite. Spinners in chartreuse or silver are drawing strikes as the sun climbs. For shad, stick with tiny gold or pink darts or crappie jigs under a light rod.
    That’s the round-up from the riverbank this morning. Thanks for tuning in to Artificial Lure’s Columbia River report—be sure to subscribe and never miss a river update.
    This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease dot ai.
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    4 min
  • Columbia River Fishing Report: Spring Chinook, Shad & Sturgeon Bites Hot in Late May 2025
    Let’s dive straight into your Columbia River fishing report for Friday, May 30th, 2025. Out on the water near Portland, the bite has been steady, with spring Chinook activity front and center. The tidal swing today is mild but worth planning around: we’ll see a low tide at 3:49 AM, the morning high at 8:33 AM, back to a deep low around 5:35 PM, and another smaller high at 10:29 PM according to Tide-Forecast.com. Sunrise hit at 5:25 AM, and you’ve got daylight right up to 8:51 PM for all those after-work anglers.
    Weather-wise, we’re looking at typical late May conditions. Expect some clouds with occasional sun breaks, light winds, and a touch of chill in the morning—perfect for an early start before the boat traffic picks up. With recent rain in the area, the river’s got just enough color to it, which will keep fish comfortable and active.
    On the catch front, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife reports that from Bonneville Dam down past Warrior Rock, catches have been respectable. Out of 62 boats between Portland and Warrior Rock, 13 Chinook and four jack Chinooks were kept, with a handful released. Troutdale’s been productive, with 20 Chinook and six jacks kept for 137 boats. Shad are also in, and the bite’s starting to heat up for those looking to fill a cooler—weekly counts show nearly 200 shad for just over 50 bank anglers.
    The spring Chinook retention season remains open, and expectations are for a run above forecast, so now’s the time to get after it before pressure increases further downstream. Sturgeon have also shown up in solid numbers—guests fishing with local guides have reported “a ton of sturgeon,” both as catch-and-release and keepers where permitted.
    For lures and bait: trolling herring and anchovies with a flasher setup remains king. Hardware anglers are scoring with spinners—chartreuse, metallic red, and silver being top color picks this week. If you’re targeting shad, small gold or silver spoons and darts are the ticket. For sturgeon, fresh-smelt and sand shrimp off the bottom have been deadly, especially around deeper holes and channel edges.
    Two local hot spots to circle on your map:
    - Davis Bar, where Chinook action has been solid, especially late morning into early afternoon.
    - The head of Multnomah Channel, which has consistently produced for both salmon and shad.
    A reminder to those heading to the Willamette—recent rain has it looking like chocolate milk, so stick to the mainstem Columbia for better clarity and action.
    Thanks for tuning in to your Columbia River fishing update. Make sure to subscribe for more local fishing news, tips, and on-the-water reports.
    This has been a quiet please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.
    4 min

About Columbia River Portland Fishing Report Today

From the publisher's feed

The "Columbia River, Portland Fishing Report Today" podcast delivers up-to-the-minute fishing conditions, expert tips, and local news for anglers in the Portland area. Tune in daily to get the latest updates on water levels, fish activity, and the best spots to cast your line on the Columbia River. Whether you're a seasoned fisherman or a weekend warrior, our comprehensive reports will help you make the most of your fishing adventures.