Late Season Fishing on the Columbia River Near Portland Holds Surprises

As of December 13, 2024, the fishing scene on the Columbia River near Portland is shaping up to be quite interesting, despite the late season. ### Tidal and Weather Conditions Today, the tide times at the Columbia River entrance are as follows: the first low tide is at 5:50 AM, the first high tide at 12:01 PM, the second low tide at 6:54 PM, and the second high tide at 10:47 PM[2][5]. Sunrise is at 7:50 AM and sunset at 4:30 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 is still some activity, particularly with coho and Chinook salmon, although the numbers are dwindling. Steelhead are starting to make an appearance, especially as we approach late December and early January[4]. ### Recent Catches In recent weeks, anglers have been catching a mix of coho and Chinook salmon, especially in the Hood River area. For example, on October 16, there were reports of catching two Chinook and losing another in the same area[1]. ### Best Lures and Bait For steelhead, which are becoming more active, using small jigs, spinners, and flies can be effective. For any remaining salmon, try using herring, anchovies, or lures like Kwikfish and MagLip plugs. For sturgeon, which are present year-round, bait like nightcrawlers, sand shrimp, and anchovies work well. ### Hot Spots The Hood River area continues to be a hot spot, especially for those targeting salmon and steelhead. Another good location is the area around Bonneville Dam, where anglers have reported catching a mix of coho and Chinook. The Portland area itself, particularly around the mouth of the Willamette River, can also yield some good catches. Overall, while the fishing might not be as prolific as during the peak seasons, there are still opportunities to catch some quality fish on the Columbia River near Portland. Make sure to check the latest fishing regulations and updates before heading out. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.