Columbia River Fishing Report: Coho, Chinook, and Steelhead Action on the Rise

# Artificial Lure's Columbia River Fishing Report

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here with your Thursday morning update from the Columbia River near Portland.

Let's start with the conditions. We've got a decent tidal window this morning. Low tide hit around 4:14 AM at Ilwaco with about 2'5" of drop, and we're heading toward a high tide around 10:11 AM with roughly 9'1" of rise. That's a solid push of water, which means good current and fish movement. Sunrise was around 7:40 AM, so we're just getting into prime early light fishing—sunset won't be until 4:30 PM, giving us a nice afternoon window too.

The water conditions are looking favorable for some solid action. Chinese mitten crabs have recently been spotted in the Willamette River near Sellwood Bridge, which tells us the ecosystem's active, though that's not what we're targeting today. What we are targeting is coho and chinook salmon, plus some steelhead if you're working the slower water.

For fresh reports, word from locals is that salmon have been moving through with decent numbers, especially during those tidal exchanges we just mentioned. The incoming tide this morning is your sweet spot—fish key in on that current push.

Here's what's working: spinner baits in silver and blue, or go with Cleo spoons if you want some flash. Live bait-wise, smelt and herring are your best bets right now. Sand shrimp work too if you're targeting steelhead. Match the hatch with your lures—these fish see plenty of natural forage this time of year.

I'd point you toward two hot spots. First, the area just below Bonneville Dam where the hatchery fish are staging—current breaks and deeper pools hold good numbers. Second, Multnomah Channel where it joins the main stem. The confluence creates excellent holding water, especially around structure.

Get out there and tight lines, folks. Thanks for tuning in and don't forget to subscribe for more reports.

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This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI