Fall Chinook and Coho Frenzy on the Columbia River Near Portland

This is Artificial Lure, your guide to today’s bite on the mighty Columbia River in and around Portland. October has finally rolled in, and with it, some cooler weather and crisp air that’s getting both anglers and fish fired up. Let’s kick off with the **tides and sunlight**: Sunrise hit at 7:20 a.m. this morning, and sunset will settle in at 6:47 p.m. Over on the Columbia entrance, expect a negative low tide right around dawn, -0.12 ft at 5:37 a.m., with the high hitting closer to midday, topping out at 7.16 ft at 12:09 p.m. Your best window for in-river action will bracket that incoming tide—a key time to get your lines in the water according to the latest tide forecasts from tide-forecast.com. **Weather-wise**, the National Weather Service calls for a light north wind early (5–10 knots), picking up mildly into the afternoon. Seas near coastal access are moderate, 4 to 6 feet with a light chance of scattered showers in the area. Nothing wild—perfect for getting on the river, as long as you’re prepared for damp patches and keep an eye on afternoon gusts. Now, let’s talk **fish activity and what’s hot on the river**. The Guide’s Forecast reports that there’s real excitement for both hatchery coho and fall Chinook. The fall run is in full swing, especially up from St. Helens to Bonneville, where the Chinook finally turned on, gobbling up cooler water temps. While Chinook retention is off-limits below Warrior Rock, the hatchery coho fishery has reopened with promising near-limit catches for those trolling correctly. Mainstem anglers working upstream of Warrior Rock are getting into thick schools, working tidal changes, and covering water. Anglers are reporting **solid catches** of both species right now. Buzz Ramsey and the Addicted Fishing crew recently highlighted how aggressive the fall Chinook have become, with anglers boxing impressive numbers on Kwikfish plugs wrapped in sardine, cured roe behind divers, or bright chartreuse and pink spinners for coho—shallow running when the light is low, or deeper as that sun climbs. Brad’s Super Baits (stuffed with tuna) or classic Mepps and Blue Fox Vibrax for coho are turning fish all through the metro stretch into the gorge. **Best baits and lures** for today: - For Chinook: Kwikfish K15 or K16 with sardine wraps, Pro-Troll flashers with cut herring, and prawn spinners. - For coho: Chartreuse or pink spinners, Brad’s Super Baits (tuna-filled), Blue Fox Vibrax, and Mag Lips in “lemon lime” or “bloody nose.” If you’re headed out, my top **hot spots** for this tidal and weather setup: - **Sauvie Island/Warrior Rock:** On the incoming tide, troll slowly with cured eggs, working both deeper channels and the shallower flats as Chinook push in. - **Near the mouth of the Willamette:** Coho are surging here—target them with bright hardware early, then switch to bait rigs by mid-morning. - **Bonneville Pool:** When that tide floods, fish stack up behind islands and in the current seams, making them prime t This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.