Columbia River Fall Salmon Fishing: Ideal Conditions and Hot Spots

As of October 7, 2024, the Columbia River around the Portland area is offering some exciting fishing opportunities, especially for those targeting salmon. ### Tidal and Weather Conditions Today, the tide is expected to be favorable, with the high tide at around 10:30 AM and low tide at 4:30 PM. The weather forecast indicates partly cloudy skies with a mild temperature, making it an ideal day to be out on the water. Sunrise is at 7:21 AM, and sunset will be at 6:23 PM. ### Fish Activity The fall salmon season is in full swing, and the fish activity has been robust. Yesterday, anglers reported catching a mix of Chinook and coho salmon. From Buoy 10 up to the west end of Puget Island, anglers can keep one Chinook and up to three total salmon, with all coho needing to be hatchery-reared with a healed clipped fin. ### Catch Reports In the past few days, the Buoy 10 area has seen consistent catches of both Chinook and coho salmon. On Saturday, September 28, there were 537 salmonid boats counted from Bonneville Dam to Tongue Point, with anglers keeping 144 Chinook, 28 jack Chinook, 11 coho, and one jack coho in the Gorge area. ### Best Lures and Bait For salmon fishing in this area, trolling herring with divers is a highly recommended method. The divers help to reach the desired depth, and herring is a favorite bait for salmon. Some guides also prefer trolling herring with lead, as it keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. ### Hot Spots - **Buoy 10**: Located at the mouth of the Columbia River, this is one of the most productive areas, especially on the incoming tide. Be there at least an hour before low slack tide for the best results. - **The Astoria/Megler Bridge**: This area sees heavy concentrations of boats fishing the deep channel on the Washington side. It's a good spot to catch salmon as they move upriver. Overall, the conditions are ripe for a successful day of fishing on the Columbia River. Make sure to check the latest regulation updates and enjoy the fall salmon run. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.