Lower Columbia Springers - crowded?

[Larry3215]

Anyone been fishing the lower Columbia lately - Portland to Longview area plus or minus?

Ive read several good reports recently and was thinking about giving it a try. Last time we fish the lower river was years ago for sturgeon. Sometimes it was nice but many times it was crazy crowded with lots of inconsiderate idiots causing trouble.

Just wondering if its still that way. I might want to skip it if its like I5 at rush hour.

[Bodofish]

I'm guessing you'd be in for more with the limited King fisheries. I haven't been for a couple years but I'd expect it to a zoo. My 2 cents is don't just anchor up. Watch the show and if you see a fish get caught make a note of how far out from the shore it is so you can position yourself accordingly. They all follow a depth contour on the way in. It changes from day to day. If your offering isn't where they swim, you're wasting your time. It could be as little as 10 feet in or out, either way.
Good luck and lets know how your do.

[Larry3215]

Thanks!.

If we go, I will definitely do a report.

[4n6fisher]

"On Saturday’s (3/26) flight, 1,468 salmonid boats and 483 Oregon bank anglers were counted from the Columbia River Estuary to Bonneville Dam." From Seattle Times Mark Yuasa, check the Oregon Columbia fishing report, they list the amount of boats and bank anglers spotted during fly overs. I think they publish that Wed. or Thurs.
So I would say pretty crowded, but probably better than in August at the Buoy 10 fishery, that was a gong show last year with idiots galore running over lines and crowding the hell out of you whenever you hooked up.

[BARCHASER10]

I think the Columbia closes tomorrow, April 5th. This is the fishchecker report from last week. Go down to the bottom, the chart is a little hard to read, but the success rate is around 10% or so.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/region ... 8_2016.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BARCHASER10]

Excuse me, looks like it closes April 9th although it is closed for one day before that on April 5th.

2016 Columbia River spring chinook sport fishery set

Action: Sets fishing regulations for spring chinook on the mainstem Columbia River

Species affected: Spring chinook, steelhead and shad.

Effective date: March 1 - April 9, 2016 except closed March 29 and April 5

Area: The mainstem Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to Bonneville Dam.

Restrictions: Closed to fishing for salmonids and shad from boats between Beacon Rock and Bonneville Dam. The Beacon Rock boundary is defined as a line projected from the deadline marker on the Oregon bank (approximately four miles downstream from Bonneville Dam Powerhouse 1) through the western tip of Pierce Island to a deadline marker on the Washington bank at Beacon Rock.

Daily bag limit: Daily salmonid limit is 6 fish (hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead), of which no more than 2 may be adults, and no more than 1 may be an adult chinook. Release all wild chinook and wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size: 12 inches.

Effective date: March 16 - May 6, 2016

Area: Tower Island power lines (approximately 6 miles below The Dalles Dam) upstream to Oregon/Washington border plus the Oregon and Washington banks between Bonneville Dam and the Tower Island power lines.

Daily bag limit: Daily salmonid limit 6 fish (hatchery chinook or hatchery steelhead), of which no more than 2 can be adults, and no more than 1 may be an adult chinook. Release all wild chinook and wild steelhead. Salmon minimum size: 12 inches.

Effective date: March 16-May 15, 2016

The Columbia River will be open for retention of adipose fin-clipped steelhead from Buoy 10 to the Highway 395 Bridge and open for shad from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam only during days and in areas open for retention of adipose fin-clipped spring chinook.

Information contact: (360) 696-6211. For latest information press *1010.


Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check

[Larry3215]

Ok, then I wont be making it down for any springers. Cant make it out that soon.

Thanks guys!

[Larry3215]

I think the Columbia closes tomorrow, April 5th. This is the fishchecker report from last week. Go down to the bottom, the chart is a little hard to read, but the success rate is around 10% or so.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/creel/region ... 8_2016.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The truly sad thing is that a success rate of 10% is considered HOT fishing these days!

[BARCHASER10]

The Columbia always closes around the first week or so of April. Usually, they reopen it in late April or early May depending on how the run looks. The Willamette stays open for Springers and it can be just as good as the Columbia sometimes. Fishing and getting to the Willy isn't that hard. Cross the Columbia at Longview, motel at St Helens and fish the Multnomah Channel at St Helens or in the Harbor near Freds Marina, couple miles above the mouth of the Willy. I was raised in Portland and I fish Springers there with old friends every year.

[Larry3215]

Thanks for the tip! We would need Oregon licenses then though?

[BARCHASER10]

Inside the Willy and Multnomah Channel you need an Oregon permit. The states have a reciprocal agreement but only for the Columbia. Ifish has a thread where they talk constantly about fishing on the Willy, the MC and the C.

If you get serious about going down there just let me know and I'll give you info on where to stay, where to fish and the gear to use. I have two friends with boats down there, one lives in Columbia City and the other in Oregon City so I just fish with those guys.

[Larry3215]

Thanks!!!