Coho Crush on the Columbia: A Riverside Report for Autumn Anglers

Artificial Lure with your Columbia River Portland fishing report for Monday, October 27, 2025. Here’s what’s happening riverside—grab that coffee and let's get you rigged up. First, let’s hit the **weather**: Portland this morning wakes brisk, low clouds lingering, and the air is cool in that classic late-October way. Day highs pushing low 60s, light northeast wind. Layer up, especially if you’re out at sunrise, which hits at 7:21 AM. Sunset tonight drops at 6:33 PM, so you’ve got that perfect fall window for chasing those river monsters. Today’s **tide** at Saint Helens—just upriver—shows a high at 7:36 AM, peaking around 1.0 meters, and another strong high at 7:33 PM as evening sets. Low tide comes in around 3:18 AM and 2:01 PM, so plan those shorelines and back-eddy drifts when the water’s moving. Tidal swings this week have been steady, so current is just right for fish on the move. Now, onto the **catch**: Over the weekend, Columbia River fishers reported solid action for **coho salmon** staging near the mouth and around the islands. The bite really picked up at outgoing tides, with fish stacking up in the deeper slots below the I-5 bridge and at Frenchman’s Bar. The bulk of coho right now run 6 to 10 pounds, chromed out and feisty. A few **chinook** stragglers are still getting picked off, especially closer to the Willamette confluence, but their run’s winding down. **Sturgeon** action is consistent, especially in slackwater slots by Sauvie Island—lots of keeper-sized fish getting hooked by folks soaking bait deep. Lures and baits—here’s the inside track: - For **coho**, number three and four Blue Fox and Vibrax spinners in chartreuse or pink are the ticket. Folks running Kiwkfish in silver/green or Mag Lip plugs behind a spreader have picked up bigger salmon early morning and late evening. - **Bait** wise, anchovy and sand shrimp threaded on bait rigs are top choices if you’re gunning for chinook or targeting deeper holes for the chance at a mixed bag. - **Sturgeon** anglers should stick with smelly baits: whole smelt and squid on circle hooks. Bring scent and swap out rigs regularly—the bite’s touchy with all this changing water. A couple **hotspots** for today: - Cathedral Park boat ramp—excellent access to deep seams and immediate tide swings. Action ramps up here on the outgoing, especially for salmon. - Sauvie Island’s south shore—bank access, and prime habitat just off the dropoff. Sturgeon and coho have both been active. Fish activity overall is strong—according to Columbia River Portland Daily Fishing Report, Saturday saw double-digit coho landed by drift boats near Government Island, and bank anglers at Kelley Point got their hands on four nice sturgeon before noon. Hazardous seas offshore have kept pressure in the river, so action is concentrated and competitive—expect crowds on the top spots, especially early. Keep watch for sneaker waves if you’re out near the lower river; safety first. Take the cast between tides, fis This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.