Columbia River Fishing Report: Fall Chinook, Coho, Bass, and More on the Bite

Artificial Lure here with your September 28, 2025 Columbia River fishing report for the Portland region. We’re kicking off this fall Sunday with sunrise at 7:20am and sunset at 7:18pm, giving you a full day of cool, comfortable fishing weather. Expect partly cloudy skies, a light morning chill around 50°, and afternoon highs nipping at the upper 60s. The water’s cooling, and with the barometer dipping, anglers are finding a bit more cooperative fish both near town and out towards the edges. Tides this morning see a high right at 6:21am, dropping to a low at 5:12pm according to Tide-Forecast.com, setting up prime moving water at first light—a proven trigger for salmon and bass alike across the main channels and sloughs. At the river’s mouth and near St. Helens, there’s still brisk push on the outgoing. Here’s what’s biting: Due to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife closures on mainstem Columbia salmon through October 1, anglers are focusing on tributaries or heading west to tidewater. Word from last week is the Chinook bite has been red-hot downriver near Warrior Rock and St. Helens, with big fall kings pushing hard upriver. Buzz Ramsey and the Addicted Fishing crew report chartreuse spinners and cut plug herring are the ticket for fall Chinook—stick to these if you’re finding open water or headed out near the estuary. Coho counts remain well below average for this date in both the Willamette and Columbia, but there’s a rumored early surge of fat silvers moving on this week’s tides, particularly at lower tidewater marks. If you’re able to chase coho, go with bright pink or orange spinners, or small Brad’s Cut Plugs behind a short leader. Drano Lake is still producing good coho and Chinook catches if you feel like a drive east. With the chinook closure, urban anglers are switching gears. Bass and walleye action has picked up on the main river edges and inside channels around Portland, notably Multnomah Channel and the mouth of the Willamette by Sauvie Island. Nightcrawlers, tube jigs, and perch-pattern crankbaits fished along rocky points or drop-offs have yielded steady bites—low, clear water means it pays to downsize and fish slow. Northern pikeminnow fishing is still active; Hoodline notes the bounty season has been extended through October 12 on select Columbia stretches—worth a go if you’re looking for numbers and a little bonus cash. Trout fishing is humming at local reservoirs like Foster and in central Oregon lakes—Foster was just stocked and water temps now favor trout activity. If you head out, double-check current ODFW rules since some coho closures are in place in smaller tribs like Eagle Creek through Halloween. A couple of hot spots today: the mouth of the Willamette near Sauvie Island (for bass, stray salmon, and the chance at chunky walleye) and Multnomah Channel for steady bass and perch action. When salmon opens, keep an eye on Warrior Rock down to St. Helens—that stretch will fire with migrating kings on the move. Best This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.