"Columbia River Salmon Fishing: Navigating Tides and Catch Opportunities in Transitioning Seasons"

As of October 3, 2024, the Columbia River around Portland is offering some exciting fishing opportunities, despite the transitioning seasons. ### Weather and Tides Today, you can expect partly cloudy skies with a high of around 64°F and a low of 48°F. The sunrise is at 7:08 AM, and sunset will be at 6:33 PM. Tides are crucial for fishing in this area; today's high tide is at 9:47 AM, and the low tide is at 3:34 PM. The incoming tide, especially around the high slack, has been producing the best bites. ### Fish Activity Yesterday saw a decent number of anglers out on the water, particularly around Buoy 10 and the Astoria-Megler Bridge area. The fish activity has been spotty but promising, especially for those targeting hatchery coho salmon. As of the latest reports, anglers were able to keep hatchery coho salmon, with some areas allowing for the retention of two hatchery coho per day. ### Catch Reports In the Buoy 10 area, anglers reported catching a mix of chinook and coho salmon, although the chinook must be released as per current regulations. Yesterday, weekly checking showed 63 chinook and 448 coho kept, along with 66 chinook and 414 coho released for 340 boats in the Gorge area. ### Best Lures and Bait For salmon fishing in the Columbia River, trolling herring with divers is a highly recommended method. The divers help get the bait to the right depth, and herring is a favorite among salmon. Some guides also swear by trolling herring with lead, as it keeps the bait in the strike zone longer. ### Hot Spots - **Buoy 10**: This is one of the most popular spots, located at the mouth of the Columbia River. It's most productive on the incoming tide, so be there at least an hour before low slack tide. - **Astoria-Megler Bridge**: The area around this bridge, particularly on the Washington side, has seen heavy concentrations of boats and good catches of both chinook and coho salmon. - **Desdemona Sands**: This giant sandbar stretching from just upstream of the Astoria-Megler Bridge to the town of Chinook can be very productive, especially during the high slack tide. Overall, the Columbia River is still offering great fishing opportunities, especially for those targeting hatchery coho salmon. Make sure to check the latest regulations and be prepared for the changing tides and fish behaviors. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.