The Angle: Columbia River Fall Salmon Fishing

Fall has arrived. Along with the changing of seasons, salmon that are born in our local rivers and hatcheries return after a journey feeding in the Pacific Ocean. The most famous of salmon in the Columbia River is the “Chinook,” or “King Salmon.” While Spring Chinook are world famous for their taste, the “Upriver Bright” Chinook of Fall are nothing to sneeze at either.
From August through December, Fall Chinook and Coho Salmon enter the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria. These fish will navigate to tributaries near the coast, such as the Cowlitz, Lewis, Willamette and Sandy rivers to find a mate to spawn with. The run-timing of these fish is as diverse as the landscape of the Pacific Northwest. Large numbers of Chinook and Coho Salmon pass over Bonneville Dam and are counted, some of them headed up past several dams just to reach their river of birth.
Because it is the best time of year for overall numbers of salmon, anglers will travel from all over the USA and beyond to fish for these salmon. Hotels can be filled, gas stations busy and the thrill of catching ocean-run fish in freshwater rivers is in the air.
When a salmon gets close to spawning, their meat loses nutrients and flavor. Because of this, the largest crowds tend to fish closer to the ocean, or in the Pacific itself, to catch the freshest specimens. However, there are Chinook that migrate into smaller tributaries while still in prime condition. This creates some incredible bank, drift boat and raft fishing for those without a larger boat.
The Columbia River is highly regulated to adhere to strict catch quotas and run expectations that are managed tightly. There are regulation booklets that are free in many retail stores, but always be sure to check for emergency rule changes on Oregon or Washington’s Department of fish and Wildlife websites.
Learning salmon fishing can be challenging but extremely rewarding. I recommend booking a trip with an experienced fishing guide or two, and trying a few different fisheries. If you have a friend who regularly catches fish, you can gain confidence by having the little details that matter dialed in. If you love eating salmon, once you have one for dinner that you caught just a few hours before… you’ll be ruined for life!