Salmon Fishing Guide Charter in Portland Oregon
Portland is Oregon’s largest city as it sits on both the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. With hundreds of thousands of Salmon making their way through the rivers surrounding the Portland area each year, there are many great fishing opportunities throughout the year. We get three runs of Salmon each year, Spring, Summer, and Fall Chinook. All three of these runs offer great fishing opportunities. From the mouth of the Columbia in Astoria, Oregon all the way to the mouth of the Deschutes River in Rufus, these fish are on the move. Knowing where the fish are and what tackle to use is key to a successful day on the water. At the end of our day of fishing after pictures are taken, I will fillet and bag your day’s catch for your convenience. Portland offers great lodging opportunities as well as many other activities to do once we are off the water.The nearby Columbia River Gorge is a must see attraction before you leave Portland. Salmon season in Portland is a wonderful time of year and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Spring Chinook Fishing
Spring Chinook are some of the best Salmon to fish for, these are the fish that everyone wants to catch. Spring Chinook are the most sought after of their species with fillets at the market going for upwards of $35 a pound. These Salmon are so popular due to the high fat and oil content they provide. March is when we begin to see these fish returning to the rivers with peek season being in April. Spring Chinook are aggressive fish and put up a great fight. These are some of the most fun fish to fight as they are unpredictable.
We offer Spring Chinook Fishing trips for up to six people at a time. While fishing for Spring Chinook we will be anywhere from the Multnomah Channel near Sauvie Island in Portland all the way to the heart of downtown. During these trips we will be trolling either 360 flashers and spinners or herring, however, depending on water conditions it is also possible we will be on anchor fishing plugs and spinners. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to catch some Columbia River Gold, book your trip for the upcoming season now!
Summer Salmon Fishing
Summer Salmon fishing typically begins around June and will go through mid July. This is a great time to fish, the weather is usually great and the water conditions are favorable. Summer Salmon are the largest of the Columbia River Salmon, they are often referred to as “June Hogs”. The limit is usually one fish per person this time of year. They put up a heck of a fight and often jump out of the water multiple times.
We will more than likely be fishing on anchor for Summer Salmon, due to high water flows from the snow melt. Plugs and spinners are usually the lures of choice on anchor when looking for a reaction bite. The bite and the fight that June Hogs bring to the table are epic!
Fall Chinook Fishing
Fall chinook fishing in Oregon is the Super Bowl of all our salmon fisheries. This is our biggest and most popular fishery of the year. Our Fall Chinook season starts in August and will remain very good all the way through October. We start our season in Astoria, Oregon and work our way up river following the big push of salmon up the Columbia. We typically end our season either fishing below Bonneville Dam or fishing the mouth of the Deschutes River. These are both holding areas for Salmon!
Trolling is the name of the game when it comes to our Fall Chinook. The water is warm this time of year, so being mobile and covering water is essential in the Fall! In Astoria where we start our season it is primarily a bait fishery. Trolling herring and anchovies is the key when Salmon are fresh out of the saltwater. Once we leave Astoria we troll 3.5 spinners behind Pro-Troll flashers for the rest of the season. This is a great time of year to be on the water, be sure to book your trip today!