Columbia River Fishing Report: Spring Chinook Slow but Sturgeon Picks Up in Portland Area

Fishing Report for the Columbia River, Portland – April 23, 2025 Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with today’s Columbia River fishing report for the Portland stretch and nearby waters. The sun rose this morning at 6:10 AM with skies mostly overcast and a cool breeze rolling off the river. We’re looking at high temps right around the mid-50s, so dress in layers and be ready for the possibility of a stray shower. Winds are forecast to pick up slightly mid-morning, with the best fishing likely to be early and late. The tide is moderate, with outgoing tide making access and anchoring at your favorite spots a little more manageable as the morning progresses. As for the bite, things remain a bit slow for the prized spring chinook. There have been occasional springers picked up, especially in the stretch from Davis Bar down to the I-5 Bridge, but the run is off to a sluggish start this year. Mainstem fishing is pretty quiet, and most guides are reporting scattered catches at best, with only a handful of fish showing up each trip. Bonneville area bank anglers are picking up the rare fish, but results are far from hot. The Willamette River is still off-color and slow to clear, so expect similarly challenging conditions for salmon there[1][2][5]. If you want more action, sturgeon fishing in the lower Willamette is coming alive. Catch-and-release anglers have been reporting consistent hook-ups with good-sized fish. While you can’t keep them, it’s fun rod-bending action. The smelt are finally starting to clear out, which should improve future salmon chances – and the pesky sea lions are thinning, another plus[1]. Top-producing lures for spring chinook have been chartreuse spinners, small prismatic plugs like Kwikfish K14s wrapped with sardine, and cut-plug herring trolled downstream. On slow days, downsizing your presentation or running bait closer to the bottom can help. For sturgeon, try sand shrimp or smelt on the bottom. The bites have been best right at dawn and again late in the day, especially as tides switch. Davis Bar remains a hotspot for a shot at springers, and the waters near the I-5 Bridge have seen the most consistent catches lately. If you’re looking for steady rod action, try the lower Willamette for sturgeon instead. Sunset is at 8:01 PM tonight. Be safe out there, watch for wind, and don’t forget to check the latest regulations and advisories before heading out. Tight lines from Artificial Lure, and here’s hoping the springers turn on soon[1][2][4][5]! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.