Early Season Fishing Heats Up on the Columbia River Near Portland

As of January 17, 2025, the fishing scene on the Columbia River near Portland is quite dynamic, despite the early season. ### Tidal and Weather Conditions Today, the tide times for Wauna, Columbia River, are as follows: high tide at 4:53 AM with a height of 1.92 meters, low tide at 11:15 AM with a height of 0.45 meters, another high tide at 4:24 PM with a height of 1.91 meters, and a low tide at 11:41 PM with a height of 0 meters. Sunrise is at 7:50 AM and sunset is at 4:57 PM[2]. ### Fish Activity Recently, the sturgeon fishing in the Columbia River Gorge was excellent, but it was closed down by fisheries managers after just one day due to high catch rates. However, catch-and-release trips are still available and can be quite action-packed[1]. For other species, the salmon fishing, particularly for Chinook and coho, has been spotty but promising in the upper sections of the river. In the Hood River area, anglers have been catching a mix of Chinook and coho, with some days being more productive than others. The fish are in good shape, and the area above the Hood River Bridge has seen consistent catches[1]. ### Best Lures and Bait For salmon, spinners and SpinFish have been effective lately, especially when fishing upstream in the Columbia River Gorge below Bonneville Dam. These lures tend to bring in the strikes, especially during the early morning hours[1]. ### Hot Spots - **Hood River Area**: This has been a hot spot for catching Chinook and coho salmon. The area above the Hood River Bridge is particularly productive. - **Columbia River Gorge below Bonneville Dam**: This area is great for sturgeon and salmon, especially when using spinners and SpinFish. ### Outlook While the sturgeon fishery is currently closed for keepers, the salmon fishing is expected to remain steady, especially as we approach the spring runs. The forecast for spring Chinook is similar to last year, with around 122,500 adult spring Chinook expected to return, though with some constraints on bag limits and fishing days[3]. Overall, it's a good time to get out on the water, especially if you're looking for a catch-and-release sturgeon trip or some early-season salmon action. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.