Chasing Coho on the Columbia: Late Fall Fishing in Portland

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure reporting from the banks of the Columbia River around Portland on Saturday, November 1st, 2025. If you’re itching to get out and cast a line this chilly morning, here’s what’s happening local and real. Early risers saw a **sunrise at 7:34 AM**, and you’ll want to plan your haul before **sunset hits at 6:15 PM**. The weather is typical late fall: partly cloudy, high scattered showers possible, and mid-40s by midday, so bring layers and keep an eye on gusts blowing off the water. Just north on the coast, there’s a **high surf advisory today**, but up here in Portland, the river’s current is your main concern, especially with the autumn rains pushing flow rates. Tides at the Morrison Street Bridge showed a **low tide right around midnight (0.35 ft)**, a **high tide at 5:28 AM (2.36 ft)**, and another **high at 5:29 PM stretching up to 3.37 ft**. Fish are most active during these rising water periods especially near slack tide, so time your anchor sets or beach walks accordingly according to tidal predictions from NOAA Tides and Currents. **Fish activity** has picked up with cooler water temps—reports this week from The Columbian sports desk and local anglers say the bite for **Coho salmon** has been good, especially early before sunrise. You’re still seeing lingering summer-run **steelhead**, though most are on the tail-out. Most anglers have been reporting catches in the range of 1–3 fish for short sessions, with **sturgeon** making cameo appearances just downstream, mostly in the deeper holes. Best spots lately? Locals are lining up at *Hayden Bay* and the *Jantzen Beach Moorage*, both spots with slightly sheltered banks and easy casts to deeper flows. *Broughton Beach* is another, especially for surf casters during the evening bite. If you’re boat-enabled, targeting main channel ledges between *Salpar Bay Marina* and *Tomahawk Bay Moorage* has been producing, especially when current mellows. For the **best lures and bait**: anglers swear by *Brad’s Super Bait* and *Mag Lip 3.5s* for trolling, packed with tuna or sardine fillets. If you’re casting from the bank, stick with *Spin-N-Glo* rigs and shrimp for steelhead, while coho are hitting hard on *pink or chartreuse hoochies* and spinners. If you’re after sturgeon, nothing beats smelly old *squid*, *anchovy*, or *sand shrimp* on the bottom. Don’t forget to tip your hooks with scent gel, especially when fishing after a rain. Regulations: doublecheck slot limits for sturgeon and fall closures posted by ODFW; Coho retention is open with two-adult limits in these stretches, but always verify since rules shift quickly in fall. The usual mix of other species—*smallmouth bass*, *catfish*, even some late-run *Chinook*—is possible, but most reports say the salmon run is the star right now. To recap, for a productive day around the Columbia in Portland: focus your efforts near **Hayden Bay** and **Jantzen Beach Moorage** for consistent action. Target tidal syncs, es This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.