Oregon and Washington guided fishing trips for salmon, keeper sturgeon, steelhead and walleye on the Columbia River.
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From early September through mid-October, Chinook salmon return to spawn below Priest Rapids Dam. Washington’s king salmon are genetically among the largest Chinook, second only to those of Alaska’s Kenai River.
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Columbia River keeper season opens January 1 and can run into March, though dates are not guaranteed. With limited days available, book now—there are only a few places in the world where you can keep sturgeon, so get the experience while you can.
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Target monster, world-record-sized walleye from February through May and again in November and December. Walleye from 10 to 24 pounds have been caught during these months at Rufus, John Day, Umatilla, Irrigon and McNary Dam—one of the only areas besides Hanford for this opportunity. Book now.
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Fish The Dalles, John Day, Umatilla and Hanford Reach—the Columbia River areas known for its biggest fish. Giants can stretch to 13 feet and 4 feet across the belly, often weighing 800 to more than 1,000 pounds. Bring lunch and drinks: everyone aboard will take a turn fighting a prehistoric monster that may be more than 100 years old.
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For the fattest eaters and plenty of them, fish April through July. Summer produces the most fish and the biggest eater-size walleye, from 1 to 10 pounds. Umatilla, Irrigon and Boardman, Oregon, downstream to Rufus, Biggs Junction and John Day Dam are prime areas for filling the freezer.
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Mid-April through early May is a short season, so book as soon as you can. Available days are limited every year, but pair the trip with walleye or sturgeon for an epic day on the water. Cold water produces prized, fatty, football-shaped spring Chinook.
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Starting in August at Buoy 10 in Astoria and continuing through mid-September at Bonneville Dam, Chinook move past the Klickitat, Deschutes and Umatilla rivers before eventually reaching Washington’s Hanford Reach to spawn. These early fish are usually bright chrome and fatty.
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American shad return to the Columbia River to spawn at Umatilla and McNary Dam in June and July. These 3- to 4-pound fish fight like salmon, with 100-plus-fish days common—controlled chaos at its best. It is a memorable trip for kids, spouses and newer anglers, and can be paired with walleye fishing the same day.
CHECK TRIP OPTIONS →Choose an experienced Columbia River fishing guide who follows the seasons, river conditions and the species you came to chase.
