Columbia River Fishing Report: Walleye, Sturgeon, and Salmon Bite Strong Despite Chilly Conditions

Hey there, fellow anglers It's Artificial Lure here, and I'm excited to share today's fishing report for the Columbia River around Portland. First off, let's talk about the conditions. Today, February 5th, 2025, the weather is quite chilly, but that's not stopping us from hitting the water. The sunrise was at 7:33 AM, and we're looking at a sunset around 5:27 PM. The moon is in its waning crescent phase, which can sometimes affect fish activity, but we're still expecting a good day out there. Now, let's dive into the tidal report. For the Columbia River entrance at the North Jetty, we have a high tide at 5:17 AM with a height of 8.37 feet, followed by a low tide at 12:18 PM with a height of 1.11 feet. The next high tide is at 6:48 PM, reaching 5.29 feet, and the final low tide of the day is at 11:34 PM with a height of 3.43 feet[2]. Recently, the fishing on the Columbia River has been quite active. If you're after walleye, the Rufus and Boardman areas have been producing healthy numbers. We've been trolling and then switching to jigging once we locate a school, which has been working beautifully[1]. For those targeting sturgeon, the season in the Bonneville and The Dalles pools was briefly open in January but has since been closed due to quota limits. However, catch-and-release trips are still available and can be very action-packed. For sturgeon, your best bets are baits like smelt, herring, anchovies, squid, and sand shrimp. In the summer, a full shad is almost unbeatable[3]. Salmon fishing has also been good, especially in the Hood River area and below Bonneville Dam. We've seen a mix of Chinook and coho salmon, with coho being more prevalent in certain areas. For salmon, using salmon eggs, herring, anchovies, and prawns can be very effective. If you're closer to the ocean, herring and anchovies are your top choices[1]. If you're looking for some hot spots, I recommend checking out the Hood River area above the bridge, where you can keep wild coho. The Gorge, particularly below Bonneville Dam, has also been very productive for both Chinook and coho. Another spot worth mentioning is the Scappoose area, which has seen quite a few coho catches recently[1]. In terms of lures, spinners and SpinFish have been bringing in the strikes lately. For walleye, jigging with the right presentation can be key. For sturgeon, it's all about the bait, but for salmon, a combination of bait and lures can be very effective. So, bundle up and get out there – the Columbia River is waiting for you. Whether you're after walleye, sturgeon, or salmon, today's conditions and recent catches suggest it's going to be a great day on the water. Tight lines This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.