Columbia River Fishing Report May 2025: Chinook, Walleye, and Sturgeon Action Heating Up

Good morning folks, Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River fishing report for May 12, 2025. Let me tell you, things are looking mighty fine on the Columbia these days. The spring Chinook run is in full swing, and after that hearing last Wednesday, we've got some additional recreational fishing days to look forward to. The upriver adult spring Chinook return is expected to hit that preseason forecast of 122,500 fish, so there's plenty of action to be had. The fishing has been a bit spotty around Portland lately, but don't let that discourage you. If you're willing to head east toward Hood River, the bite has been much more consistent. Folks in the Gorge have been doing particularly well, and there are still good numbers of fish below Bonneville Dam making their way upriver. For you walleye enthusiasts, the John Day Pool has been on fire! Recent checks showed 267 walleye kept and 141 released by boat anglers. The Dalles Pool isn't doing too shabby either, with 69 walleye kept and 47 released last week. Sturgeon fishing is currently closed for retention throughout the Columbia, but the January 2025 keeper sturgeon season dates have been set for Bonneville and The Dalles pools, so mark your calendars for Wednesdays and Saturdays starting January 1. Weather today is looking decent with temperatures in the mid-60s, light westerly winds, and partly cloudy skies. Sunrise was at 5:42 AM, and sunset will be at 8:34 PM, giving you plenty of daylight to work with. As for tactics, I'm hearing that sardine-wrapped Kwikfish in red or chartreuse colors are producing well for spring Chinook. Herring and anchovies rigged in a spinner setup are also getting attention from the biters. For walleye, try bottom walkers with nightcrawler harnesses or jigging with 3/8 oz jigheads tipped with a 4-inch grub in motor oil or chartreuse. Hot spots this week include the area around the I-205 bridge, Government Island for boat anglers, and Sauvie Island for bank access. If you're heading east, try around Cascade Locks or the mouth of the White Salmon River. The black ant hatch is on too, so fish are looking up! Don't forget to pack some surface lures if the opportunity presents itself. That's it for today, folks. Get out there and wet a line. This is Artificial Lure signing off until next time. Tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.