Fishing the Columbia River for Late-Run Salmon and Steelhead this Winter

For December 29, 2024, the fishing scene on the Columbia River near Portland is looking promising, despite the winter season. ### Tidal Report Today, the tide times at Point Adams on the Columbia River are as follows: High tide at 00:25 AM with 6.88 ft, low tide at 5:11 AM with 4.17 ft, high tide at 11:07 AM with 8.97 ft, and low tide at 6:25 PM with -0.32 ft. These tidal changes can significantly impact fish activity, especially for species like salmon and sturgeon[5]. ### Weather and Daylight Sunrise is at 7:58 AM, and sunset is at 4:38 PM. The weather is expected to be cool and possibly overcast, typical for this time of year. ### Fish Activity While the peak salmon season has passed, there are still some late-run coho and Chinook salmon in the river. Yesterday's fishing below Bonneville Dam was productive, with anglers catching Chinook and jacks. The Hood River area above the bridge also saw good catches of Chinook and coho[1]. ### Types and Amounts of Fish Expect to catch a mix of Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and possibly some steelhead, especially as winter steelhead fishing starts to pick up in December. The recent reports indicate that there are still plenty of fish around, particularly coho, which are continuing to move up the river[1][4]. ### Best Lures and Bait For salmon, using lures like spinners, spoons, and plugs can be effective. Bait such as herring, anchovies, and shrimp are also popular choices. For steelhead, try using jigs, spinners, or fly fishing with nymphs and streamers. ### Hot Spots - **Below Bonneville Dam**: This area has been very productive for Chinook and jacks. - **Hood River Area**: Above the Hood River Bridge, you can keep wild coho, and this area has seen good catches of both Chinook and coho. - **Buoy 10**: Although a bit further downstream, this area is known for excellent fishing, especially for coho and crabbing during the fall season[1]. Given the tidal changes and the time of year, it's a good idea to fish during the changing tides, especially around the high and low tide marks, as these periods often stimulate fish activity. Enjoy your fishing trip on the Columbia River This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.