Columbia River Fishing Report: Tides, Salmon, and More on September 10, 2025

Artificial Lure here with your Columbia River, Portland fishing report for Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Sunrise rolled in at 6:48 a.m., with sunset due for 7:36 p.m. According to Tide-Forecast.com, our day starts with a high tide at 2:56 a.m. (6.93 ft), dropping to a low at 8:41 a.m. (0.22 ft), back up for an afternoon high at 3:01 p.m. (7.94 ft), and guts out with a late low at 9:24 p.m. (-0.7 ft). The mid-morning and mid-afternoon tide changes provide your best shots at active fish movement. Weather’s about classic early September—patches of cloud early giving way to clearer skies into the afternoon. National Weather Service says marine clouds will keep things cool in the morning, temps ramping into the upper 60s and low 70s. Winds are a notable factor, blowing west at 15-25 mph in stretches, especially around Hood River and the gorge. Strong westerlies generally mean better oxygenation and choppier water—good for avoiding those spooky, flat-water blues but challenging for finesse presentations. Fishing action is heating up for fall salmon, with reports of Chinook and Coho being caught from Tongue Point to Warrior Rock. According to Sea Breeze Charters' 2025 update, the Buoy 10 ocean salmon fishery is now closed, putting all the pressure upriver. The in-river season allows two salmon daily, only one of which can be a Chinook, and keep in mind that all wild Coho must be released—look for that healed adipose fin clip before dropping fish in the box. Bank anglers and boaters are reporting good catches of Chinook in the St. Helens stretch, with fish pushing up and stacking at tide turns. On the Multnomah Channel side, Rocky Point is a consistent hot spot early when the tide is flooding in. Fishermen working the mouths of the Willamette and the Lewis rivers are also scoring big, especially during first light and slack water. The Cowlitz entry, just north, is another pinch point worth checking for early morning biters. Bait and tackle reports show plug-cut herring and anchovies getting most of the salmon action, with blue label herring and natural anchovy colors being the top picks. Trolling behind 360 flashers, or running spinners in metallic chartreuse and copper, especially with a few wraps of tuna or shrimp scent, is taking both Chinook and a few late Coho. Pro-Troll and Brad’s Super Baits stuffed with tuna are also drawing plenty of strikes. For bank fishers, try bobber and eggs near the mouths on an incoming tide. Other species—walleye and smallmouth bass—continue to bite in the slower water around Rooster Rock and above Bonneville Dam. Soft plastics and drop-shot rigs in natural shades are best. Folks bottom fishing around Government Island have reported steady catches of catfish, especially after sunset when the river quiets down. Recent angler blogs and trip reports, like those from Captain Experiences, confirm strong crabbing and a slowdown in bottom fishing near the ocean, but solid salmon numbers upriver. Local guides say product This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.