Best time to fish the Columbia River
There is something worth fishing for in every month. Winter is keeper sturgeon and steelhead, spring brings Chinook and trophy walleye, summer is walleye, shad and oversize sturgeon, and fall belongs to Chinook and coho (silvers).
Seasons, limits and open days are set by Oregon and Washington fish managers and change from year to year, and runs shift with water conditions. Treat this as a guide, then call or text Elmer to confirm what is fishing best for your dates.
| Month | Best fishing | Combo trip idea |
|---|---|---|
| January | Keeper sturgeon, Steelhead | Keeper sturgeon + steelhead |
| February | Keeper sturgeon, Steelhead | Keeper sturgeon + steelhead |
| March | Keeper sturgeon, Spring Chinook, Trophy walleye | Keeper sturgeon + trophy walleye |
| April | Keeper sturgeon, Spring Chinook, Trophy walleye | Sturgeon, spring Chinook or trophy walleye |
| May | Keeper sturgeon, Spring Chinook, Trophy walleye, Shad | Keeper sturgeon, trophy walleye or shad |
| June | Keeper sturgeon, Walleye, Shad, Oversize sturgeon | Keeper sturgeon, shad or walleye |
| July | Keeper sturgeon, Walleye, Shad, Oversize sturgeon, Steelhead | Keeper sturgeon, shad or walleye |
| August | Oversize sturgeon, Walleye, Summer steelhead, Fall salmon | Fall Chinook + silvers (coho) |
| September | Fall Chinook, Sturgeon, Walleye, Silvers (coho) | Fall Chinook + silvers (coho) |
| October | Fall Chinook, Sturgeon | Fall Chinook, sturgeon or steelhead |
| November | Silvers (coho), Winter B-run Snake River steelhead | Steelhead + walleye |
| December | Winter B-run Snake River steelhead | Ask Elmer |
Combo fishing trips
A combo day pairs two species, such as keeper sturgeon with walleye in spring or fall Chinook with silvers in late summer. Normally only two species are fished in one day because bait and fishing areas differ, so tell Elmer your top two and he will build the day around them.
Popular Columbia River fishing by season
- Winter: keeper sturgeon and steelhead, from a boat with heat, a windshield and full canvas.
- Spring: spring Chinook, trophy walleye and sturgeon.
- Summer: walleye, shad and oversize sturgeon.
- Fall: Hanford Reach and Columbia River Chinook, coho and sturgeon.
SEE ALL FISHING TRIPS → WHERE WE FISH → FAQ →
CHECK RATES & BOOK →