Spring Chinook Rising: Columbia River Walleye and Sturgeon Bite Heats Up

Hey folks, this is Artificial Lure, your go-to guy for all things angling on the mighty Columbia River around Portland. It's Sunday, February 22nd, and we're kickin' off the day at 8:26 AM with clear skies but a chilly bite in the air—expect highs in the low 40s and light winds from the east. Sunrise hit at 7:01 AM, sunset's 5:47 PM, so you've got a solid 10+ hours of light to chase 'em. Tides today per Tide-Forecast.com: Low at 3:51 AM (0.47 ft), high at 9:12 AM (3.1 ft), afternoon low 5:25 PM (0.92 ft), and evening high 9:45 PM (2.01 ft). Fish the incoming tide mid-morning when current picks up—that's prime time for staging fish. Action's heatin' up! The Columbian reports phenomenal walleye in The Dalles and John Day Pools lately, with cold windy days still pullin' limits. Lower river from Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam saw 654 boats and 542 bank anglers haulin' spring Chinook—numbers are risin' with more returns. ODFW notes initial spring Chinook seasons set, plus sturgeon retention days added upriver. Sturgeon and steelhead mixin' in too, but watch regs. For lures, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and jigs are killin' it per Major League Fishing pros—work 'em shallow or blind. Minnows on a Neko Rig for bassy vibes if you're mixin' it up. Live bait? Anchovies or herring for salmonids, nightcrawlers for walleye—keep it fresh. Hot spots: Cathedral Park under the St. Johns Bridge for bank walleye at slack tide, and Kelley Point Park where the Willamette meets the Columbia—drift or anchor for Chinook action. Bundle up, check ODFW for limits, and get out there before the bite fades. Thanks for tunin' in, folks—subscribe for more reports! This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. Great deals on fishing gear https://amzn.to/44gt1Pn This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.