Columbia River Spring Chinook & Walleye Fishing Report for May 18, 2025

This is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River fishing report for May 18, 2025, right here in Portland. If you’re heading out today, you’re in for classic spring weather—expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers, temps reaching the upper 60s, and a light west wind. Sunrise rolled in at 5:32 AM, and sunset will be at 8:38 PM. Be ready for those midday bites as the water warms up. Tide tables show gentle morning ebbing and an incoming tide through the afternoon, which should get salmon and shad moving, especially near river mouths and current seams. Now’s prime time for the spring Chinook run, and the fish counts have been strong. Last week, from Bonneville down through the Vancouver stretch, bank and boat anglers landed good numbers—204 bank anglers below Bonneville kept 84 Chinook and a jack, while 17 boats around Vancouver put two Chinook, two jacks, and a few releases on the board. Camas and Washougal boats are getting a few more Chinook too. Steelhead catches have been light but possible, especially first light or late afternoon[3][5]. The Oregon Technical Advisory Committee says the spring Chinook return is on track to hit a solid 122,500 fish, so now’s as good a time as any to chase them. Walleye action is picking up in the deeper holes and flats from the mouth of the Willamette upriver, especially around Sauvies Island and below the I-5 Bridge[4][5]. Your best bet for Chinook is trolling herring or anchovies, dyed green or blue, behind a chartreuse flasher. Spinners in pink, red, and chartreuse, especially with gold blades, have been working well on overcast days. Try prawn spinners or cured roe for a change-up, and run your gear just off the bottom in 18-25 feet. For walleye, stick to bottom walkers and worm harnesses in bright orange or chartreuse. Hot spots today include Davis Bar and the head of Multnomah Channel for salmon, and the Vancouver stretch or Sauvie Island flats for both salmon and walleye. The bank access below Bonneville Dam is always a local favorite when the fish are running. If you’re after shad, cast small flutter spoons or darts at the mouths of the Sandy or Willamette. Rain or shine, the fish are here and the bite is heating up. Tight lines and see you on the water. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.