Columbia River Fishing Report: Late Fall Salmon, Sturgeon, and More

This is Artificial Lure checking in with your Columbia River, Portland area fishing report for Friday, November 21, 2025. Sunrise hit at 7:18 this morning, sunset will be at 4:34 pm according to Portland Tides. Tides at Morrison Street Bridge are running low at 3:28 am, coming high at 7:23 am, low again mid-afternoon, and a high at 6:10 pm, so anglers working early or late will hit changing waters, which usually perks fish up. Temperatures are holding steady in the mid-40s with thick clouds and scattered showers — pretty classic late November weather here on the river. The salmon game is winding down fast, but not entirely over. Fall Chinook fishing has become spotty. ODFW's Columbia Zone update as of yesterday confirms the salmonid creel surveys wrapped up for the year, but some late Chinook are being scratched out in the deeper channels and at creek mouths. No wild coho retention is allowed, and hatchery coho numbers have sharply dropped in mainstem tributaries. Your best chance at any remaining salmon is near river mouths and deeper holes below the I-205 Bridge or Sauvie Island sloughs. Rain in the forecast could shake loose a few more fish moving up. For sturgeon, recent reports from The Dalles Pool have a few legal keepers mixed in among catch-and-release action, with a couple over-legal monsters giving anglers a workout. Bonneville Pool is closed to sturgeon retention but you can still get some catch-and-release fun out there. Shore anglers working sand flats and deep drop-offs with smelt or squid are still seeing some bites — remember to check specific area regulations. If it’s walleye you want, things are picking up in The Dalles Pool — checkers noted 18 walleye kept for four boats last week. Drifting downstream from the mouth of the Sandy River or off Rooster Rock with chartreuse jigs and nightcrawlers remains a solid formula for success. Bass are slowing with the cold, but a few locals are still tossing deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastics near structure, especially in shallow backwaters. Look for warmer water during sunny spells and slow your retrieve way down. The best producing lures right now: - For Chinook: big spinners (size 5-6), Cut Plug herring, and Mag Lip plugs in metallic/chartreuse. - For sturgeon: fresh smelt, anchovies, or squid. - For walleye: jig heads with nightcrawler trailers, and blade baits in silver or gold. Live bait is key right now for lethargic predators. For those set on plugs, use strong scents like sardine or anise to entice bites in the chilly water. Hot spots today include the mouth of the Willamette near Kelley Point Park, and the Columbia’s Multnomah Channel. Sauvie Island’s Gilbert River and Steamboat Slough are still seeing occasional salmon catches, especially after rain pulses. If you're planning ahead, mark your calendar for free fishing statewide on Nov. 28 and 29 — no licenses or tags needed, but all regulations still apply, so it's a good time to bring out new anglers. That's the s This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.