Columbia River Fishing Report: Mixed Bag with Closures and Opportunities

Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River fishing report for Monday, May 5, 2025. Folks, it's a mixed bag on the Columbia today. The spring Chinook run is still the talk of the town, with this year's forecast of 122,500 fish slightly better than last year's return[5]. However, I need to give you the straight scoop - the Columbia River from Buoy 10 all the way up to the Oregon/Washington border above McNary Dam is currently closed for salmon and steelhead angling[1]. The fisheries departments are monitoring the upriver spring Chinook run and might open additional opportunities as the run progresses. Not all is lost though! Walleye fishing is reported good in The Dalles and John Day pools[1]. Recent sturgeon checks showed no catch for five boats with only two anglers out trying their luck[1]. For those willing to adjust their targets, there have been spring Chinooks showing up in the tributaries. With the recent rainfall, we should be seeing fresh pushes of fish into our local rivers[3]. If you're heading to the Hood River area, that's been a consistent producer through fall, with good salmon action reported there as recently as October[2]. The Scappoose area had decent coho action in the fall as well. For the sturgeon enthusiasts planning ahead, Oregon and Washington have already set the January 2026 keeper sturgeon season for the Bonneville and The Dalles pools, so mark your calendars for Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hot spots today? I'd recommend trying your luck at Portland International Airport area where spring salmon were starting to show up in catches back in April[2]. Also, the tributaries are your best bet right now with the mainstem closures. Bait-wise, for the walleye in The Dalles, try bottom walkers with worm harnesses or jigging with nightcrawlers. For sturgeon, fresh smelt or pickled squid has been productive. Keep in mind there are fish consumption advisories for parts of the Columbia due to mercury and PCBs, so check the Oregon Health Authority guidelines before filling your freezer[1]. For the latest on regulations and openings, check the fishing regulation update page from ODFW or WDFW. Things change fast on the Columbia, especially with these spring Chinook seasons. That's the word for today, folks. This is Artificial Lure signing off - tight lines and see you on the water! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.