Late Spring Springer Surge, Shad Surge on the Columbia

Good morning folks, this is Artificial Lure with your Columbia River fishing report for the Portland area on May 26, 2025. We’re looking at classic late spring conditions on the river this week. Sunrise rolled in around 5:30 am and sunset is heading for 8:45 pm, giving us plenty of light for those early and late bites. Weatherwise, rain is in the forecast, which should help ignite another push of springers and liven up the bite, especially for the salmon chasers out there. Tidal swings are moderate, with the outgoing tide staying productive for much of the day – be ready to work those changes for the best action. Now, for the fish. Spring Chinook action continues to be the main draw. The updated forecast for upriver-origin adult Chinook is up to 155,500 fish, a solid improvement and it’s been showing in the catches lately. Last week from Portland to Warrior Rock, creel checks counted 16 Chinook and three jacks kept by 72 boats, and banks gave up two Chinook and a jack for 89 bank anglers. Warrior Rock to Rainier produced similarly, with 15 Chinook and a jack kept for 68 boats, plus a steelhead and a handful of catch-and-release Chinook. The Gorge area saw slightly lighter pressure but some nice fish caught too, especially from the banks. Shad are officially in the river and starting to show in good numbers, with nearly three fish per bank angler landed in the lower river. If you’re after steady action and tasty fillets, don’t overlook these hard-fighting fish. For lure choice, it’s tough to beat Pro-Troll flashers paired with spinners or cut plug herring for Chinook just now. Chartreuse, silver, and pink combo spinners are putting fish in the boat, especially below the mouth of the Willamette. Bank anglers are doing well with smaller drift rigs and cured eggs or sand shrimp. For shad, go with small gold or chartreuse shad darts or spoons — keep the gear light and the retrieve steady. If you’re searching for hot spots, Troutdale downstream to the mouth of the Willamette is always a spring favorite, and the waters around Warrior Rock are producing well for both boat and bank anglers. For shad, try the bank accesses downstream of Bonneville Dam. With rain moving in and a fresh run of fish on the way, now’s a great time to get out there and wet a line. Chinook numbers are looking strong, shad are here, and the sturgeon bite is still kicking for those willing to put in the hours. Good luck and tight lines! This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.