"Columbia River Fishing Report: Spring Chinook Trickle, Sturgeon on the Bite"

Good morning anglers, Artificial Lure here with your Saturday, April 19, 2025, Columbia River fishing report for the Portland area. We’re waking up to a spring morning with decent conditions for getting out on the water. Sunrise was right around 6:18 am and sunset will be at 8:01 pm, giving you plenty of daylight to work with. Expect typical April weather—overcast skies early, likely warming up with some sun breaks later in the day. Bring your rain gear just in case, as those spring showers can sneak up on us. The river’s been running a little high and murky, which has kept the fishing tough this month. In terms of tides, high tide is expected mid-morning and low tide late afternoon, so plan your efforts around those slower current windows for best results. As for fish activity, the spring Chinook run is still slow, but there’s a trickle of fresh fish passing through. Recent catch reports have been modest, with scattered springers coming in from the mainstem below Bonneville and the Portland stretch. Anglers are mostly picking up one or two fish per boat if they’re lucky, and it’s been hit or miss from the bank. The sea lions and smelt are finally thinning out, which should help fishing pick up in the coming days. Best bets for baits and lures right now are herring or prawn spinners, rigged behind a pro-troll or other flasher setup. Trolling downstream from the mouth up to the I-5 Bridge and below the railroad bridge near Portland have produced the occasional fish. Bank anglers are doing okay on sardine-wrapped Kwikfish and plunked Spin-N-Glos. If you’re headed upriver, anchor fishing with plugs and bait near the mouth of Multnomah Channel or across from Kelly Point can also yield rewards. If you want a break from the spotty salmon bite, sturgeon action has really picked up in the Willamette just off the Columbia’s main channel. A chunk of smelt or herring is your go-to bait for catch-and-release fun, especially below the falls and around the mouth. Hot spots to check today include the waters around Kelly Point Park and Government Island for a shot at springers, and the lower Willamette near the St. Johns Bridge for sturgeon. Be mindful of the regulations and check the current boundaries and open days—right now, spring Chinook fishing is open between Buoy 10 and Beacon Rock, and only from the bank above there to Bonneville for this week. Good luck out there—tight lines, keep your net handy, and don’t forget your raincoat. This is Artificial Lure, signing off and hoping your next cast is the one that counts. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.