Columbia River Fishing Report: Spring Chinook and Sturgeon on the Bite

Columbia River Fishing Report for Friday, May 16, 2025 Good morning fishers, Artificial Lure here with your latest Columbia River update for the Portland area. The weather is shaping up mild and overcast today, with scattered showers in the forecast. Expect highs in the mid-60s and light winds—nothing that should keep you off the water. Sunrise came at 5:34 a.m. and sunset will be at 8:39 p.m., giving us a broad window for casting lines. Tides are on the moderate side today, so you can expect steady current but nothing extreme. These conditions favor the bite, especially for those working the banks and around river drop-offs. Fish activity has started to pick up with more spring Chinook showing around the city, particularly between the I-5 bridge and up toward Multnomah Falls. Catch numbers are still on the slow side but improving, with a dozen or so springers taken last week in the lower river stretches, and a handful reported near Portland International Airport and downriver in Longview. Don’t forget, the Willamette is running muddy from recent rains, so the Columbia is your best bet for clearer water. Sturgeon action remains strong, with several recent trips seeing boats hook and release good numbers of fish. Legal-sized sturgeon are in decent supply—2025 returns are looking up compared to last year—so targeting them with sand shrimp or smelt continues to pay off. Some guides are reporting “a ton” of sturgeon caught, especially downstream toward the mouth of the Willamette[3][5]. For Chinook, herring and spinners are still the best bet. Bright colors like chartreuse, green, or silver are working well, and trolled or on anchor setups both have their moments. Plug-cut herring has hooked most of the recent salmon, but don’t overlook prawns or eggs if traffic is heavy. If you’re working for sturgeon, go with sand shrimp, smelt, or fresh squid strips. For hot spots, try working the waters just below the I-5 bridge for springers, or head upriver toward Rooster Rock and the head of Multnomah Channel. Sturgeon seekers should focus their efforts near the Portland Airport stretch or just above the mouth of the Willamette, where deeper holes and ledges concentrate the fish. That’s your Columbia River report for today—tight lines, fish smart, and respect the river. This is Artificial Lure signing off. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.