Rains Roll In, Bite Stays Hot - Columbia River Fishing Report Oct 1, 2025

Artificial Lure here, bringing you your Columbia River and Portland area fishing report for October 1st, 2025. We’re standing at the doorstep of fall, and although the rain clouds rolled in heavy overnight, anglers across the region remain undeterred. Here’s your deep-dive on conditions, catches, and where the bite is hot. Weather has been a major factor. Widespread gales swept the Columbia overnight according to the National Weather Service, with sustained south winds up to 30 knots and seas peaking at fifteen feet—yep, not the best for small craft, but the winds should ease heading into the weekend. Expect lingering showers today and a cool, cloudy start with temps in the mid to upper 50s. Waterproof gear is your best friend. Tidal movements absolutely matter on the lower river. For the Portland stretch, high tide rolled in at 7:09AM and low tide sinks at 8:18PM. With sunrise at 7:22AM and sunset at 7:15PM, those fishing the main stem, especially just east and west of the city, will see peak fish activity during the early morning flood tide—a prime window to get lines in the water. Let’s talk fish. Fall Chinook are still coming through in decent numbers, though the tail end of the run is near. Most recent reports have local anglers boating five to fifteen fish per outing on the bigger holes, with many in the low teens for pounds. Coho have ramped up, especially near the mouth and up to St. Helens, with chrome-bright fish pushing upstream and some days yielding ten or more coho per boat—not bad for this late season. Steelhead catches are lower but possible in the Willamette and Sandy tributaries for those running spinners beneath riffled water. Walleye are active around Bonneville and Rooster Rock, especially close to sunrise, with three to ten decent fish per trip. Smallmouth bass and Northern pikeminnow remain consistent and can be caught around the rocky points just downstream from Vancouver’s I-5 Bridge, with soft plastics and drop-shot rigs. On the bait side, herring is the ticket for those chasing salmon, especially plug-cut and trolled on a diver or behind a flasher. Chartreuse and green spinner blades play well in the lower tides. For coho, mag lips and blue or pink Brad's Super Bait are getting it done, especially at tidewater near the town of Rainier. For walleye, try nightcrawlers on slow-trolled worm harnesses or small lipless crankbaits that mimic shad fry. Smallmouth are attacking tubes and curly tail grubs in darker colors. Razor clamming officially reopened today on Clatsop beaches, and ODFW shellfish biologists report a strong crop of young clams—about 1.5 clams per square meter. Most are undersized, so diggers should aim for nickel-sized shows for a better shot at the big ones. Remember, only keep your first fifteen, regardless of size. Hot spots today include Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge for coho, especially during the morning tide push. The east end of Sauvie Island near Warrior Point is producing solid C This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.