Columbia River Fishing Report: Salmon, Steelhead, and Walleye in Portland Stretch

Hey folks, Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Columbia River fishing report for the Portland stretch on Monday, November 24, 2025. First off, sunrise came at 7:22 AM this morning and we’ll see sundown at 4:32 PM today. With cloud cover rolling in and a chilly start in the low 40s, expect overcast skies and a north wind pushing 10–15 mph. The National Weather Service is keeping a Small Craft Advisory out at the mouth, so use caution in any of the broader, exposed sections of the river and stick close to shore if you’re in a small vessel. Let’s talk tides. Down near Vancouver, high tide hit around 8:59 AM at just over 2.5 feet, with a low tide coming at 4:21 AM and another falling off just before sunset. This means the bite should be best on that ebb flow late morning through early afternoon. Slack tide around noon is usually your window for bigger sturgeon and migrating coho stops, especially if you’re west of the I-5 bridge. Recent catches have been colorful. The last few days saw solid numbers of **coho** and **chinook salmon** still moving up, though we're well into the tail end of the runs. **Steelhead** action’s been spotty—some anglers reporting a few bright fish near Kelly Point and the Willamette junction. Closer to downtown and the Morrison Street Bridge, the **walleye** bite is surprisingly lively, with several locals landing 18- to 24-inchers on chartreuse jigs tipped with nightcrawlers. Look for **smallmouth bass** around rocky outcrops, especially between Cathedral Park and Sauvie Island. If you’re after sturgeon, the lower river’s holding plenty of shakers with the occasional keeper. Reports coming out of St. Helens and near the mouth of Multnomah Channel say squid and smelt are your best bait right now. I’d skip herring for sturgeon—too many missed takes. Lure choice for salmon: bright spinners (Blue Fox #4 or #5), orange and pink yarn balls, or a plug-cut herring drifted deep. For steelhead, pink or red worms and soft beads below a float are working, especially in sunny glides and drop-offs. Bass anglers: go with green pumpkin tubes or 3-inch paddle tail swimbaits in shad color. Walleye are keyed in on silver or gold blades and soft plastics—Fishbrain reports that St. Helens and the upstream flats near Vancouver Lake are still good bets for numbers. Today’s local hot spots: - **Kelly Point Park**: Good for steelhead and coho near the Willamette-Columbia confluence - **Sauvie Island north shore**: Sturgeon and smallmouth action solid around structure and drop-offs - **Morrison Bridge stretch**: Walleye and evening bass bite, especially if you can cast near current breaks If you’re boat-bound, keep an eye out for floating debris—river’s up a tick with weekend rains. Bank fishing is steady, but watch footing and the currents on bends. That’s your Columbia River rundown for today. Thanks for tuning in, remember to subscribe for more river reports and tips from Artificial Lure. This has been a quiet please production, for This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.