Columbia River Fishing Report: Shad, Springers, and Sturgeon Abound in Late Spring Conditions

Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, May 24, 2025, fishing report for the Columbia River around Portland. We’ve got ideal late-spring conditions today. The sun rose at 5:29 AM and will set at 8:44 PM, giving us plenty of daylight to be on the water. Weather-wise, expect mild temps in the low 60s early, warming to the mid-70s by afternoon, with partly cloudy skies and a light breeze. River conditions are solid, with water clarity fair and flows typical for late May. Tidal swings are moderate today. The biggest action will be on the outgoing tide, especially for shore plunkers. Those fishing the lower river from Kelly Point down past Sauvie Island should watch the tide chart and target the top two hours of outgoing water for best results. Shad have started pushing through in good numbers, providing fast action for anglers near Bonneville Dam and popular bank spots like Meldrum Bar. Small gold or silver spoons, shad darts, and brightly colored crappie jigs are working best. Folks are reporting double-digit catches per hour when the schools come through, especially mid-morning. Spring Chinook (springers) are still showing in the Portland sections. While the run wasn’t huge this year, there’s fresh fish moving up on each tide. The most recent creel reports show 42 marked Chinook adults landed in the last open period, mostly by boaters running herring or spinners in the main channel. Anchoring up along Davis Bar or out front of the Willamette’s mouth has been a solid bet. Try trolling cut-plug herring or running 3.5 spinners in chartreuse or pink with a flasher. Sturgeon fishing is picking up, too, and legal-sized fish are being caught near the Portland Airport and St. Johns Bridge. Sand shrimp, smelt, or squid are getting bites, especially on outgoing tides. Remember to check current regs for keepers and slot limits, as rules can change quickly. For bank fishing, Meldrum Bar and the beaches near Bonneville Dam are the top spots for both shad and the occasional stray steelhead. Boat anglers should focus on the Davis Bar area and the Multnomah Channel head for springers, or hit the Airport reach for sturgeon. Best baits right now are cut-plug herring, sand shrimp, and smelt for sturgeon, and small spoons or shad darts for shad. Don’t forget to have some 3.5 spinners and tuna-wrapped FlatFish in your box for Chinook. Overall, fishing is firing up and this weekend looks to be one of the best in weeks for getting out with friends and family. See you on the river and tight lines to all. Artificial Lure, signing off. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.