I woke up early, after a restless night of excited sleep and headed down to the Columbia River. For those of us who enjoy outdoor recreation in Vancouver, waking up early and heading to the river is nothing new, but sometimes a day’s adventure is too exciting to delay until later in the day. Drinking too much coffee and not eating enough food, I drove to a remote dock along the wide river and jumped in a stranger’s boat with a few friends, ready for a fishing adventure. We were going sturgeon fishing, an activity that I had absolutely no idea what to expect. As our boat passed Multnomah Falls, which was shimmering in the early morning light, my eagerness to experience fishing on the Columbia only increased. Little did I know that this early morning trip would leave me like the fish we would soon encounter – hooked.
I went with a guide and ended up catching a huge sturgeon that seemed to be as long as our small boat. Reeling it in was exhausting and took much longer than I care to admit, as the fish weighed more than I did and didn’t stop fighting. While it was just catch and release, the feeling of bringing in this behemoth was a remarkable experience and one that has kept me, and others with similar experiences, raving about the joys of fishing the Columbia River.
Fishing on the Columbia River has been a way of life for millennia, thanks to huge sturgeon, incredible salmon runs and a steady steelhead population. While the number of fish in the river is lower than their large, historic numbers, the Columbia River is still one of the premier destinations for fishing enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest and lower 48. Surrounded by stunning and beautiful natural wonders, taking a fishing trip on the river is one of the many rites-of-passage activities that help make you a true resident of the area. Whether you go fishing on your own or hire a guide to take you to the best locations, an angling adventure is the perfect way to gain a deeper appreciation for the river and the region we call home.
What Will You Catch?
The Columbia River is full of different fish species year-round. However, there are three main types that most people want to catch. The first is the tasty and seasonal salmon, returning to the Columbia at different times of the year. While fishing rules and regulations will vary between seasons and years, depending on the size of the salmon run, the salmon fishing is without a question the most popular. Along the river, three runs of Chinook Salmon, a run of Sockeye and a run of Coho/Silver each provide anglers with a year’s worth of salmon searching.
Steelhead are also incredibly popular to catch. Fishing for steelhead typically beings in early June in the Lower Columbia River. Nearly every tributary and small creek that runs into the river sees steelhead, making this a great way to spend the summer months. The major runs of Steelhead can be found around the Willamette River Drainage, near John Day, with some of the best fishing found between Astoria and the Bonneville Dam.
The final main draw for anglers along the Columbia is sturgeon fishing. Huge in size, the bottom dwelling fish can be caught, catch and release, all year long. However, finding a season to actually land and take a sturgeon home can be tough. A guide service will be the best bet to give you the up-to-the-minute dates on when the season starts and ends. Most sturgeon can be found below the Bonneville Dam region.
What You Need
If you have all the gear you need to go out on a fishing trip, all you’ll need is a license and knowledge of where to go. While this may sound fun, we highly recommend heading out with a guide service for your first few times, as the Columbia is more difficult to fish than in a lake or on a small river. Very few fish will be caught from the banks unless you know exactly where to go and when. The Department of Fish and Wildlife can help with that information.
You Should Go With a Guide
If you have never been fishing on the Columbia River and don’t own a boat, hooking up with a guide service is your best bet for a stress free day. Even if you are an experienced angler, going with a guide a few times is recommended, so you can get some in-depth knowledge on how best to fish the river. Guided fishing trips on the Columbia take you to where the fish are, taking the guesswork out of your experience. Most guide services also have their own gear, meaning all you need to do is to show up in the proper attire and be ready to fish. While there are dozens of guided fishing trips possible from Astoria to far up the Columbia, here are three to consider for your first trip out.
Steve’s Guided Adventures
With 20 years of experience fishing and guiding the Columbia, booking a trip with Steve’s Guided Adventures will give you an extremely fun and memorable day. Whether your goal is salmon, steelhead or sturgeon, Steve and his crew will take great care of you and give you a great chance to experience the thrill of landing your dream fish.
NW Columbia Fishing Adventures
Taking you to the best fishing spots in the lower 48, the guides at NW Columbia Fishing Adventures will have you delighted at the opportunities to catch many different species of fish along the river. Offering fishing trips for one to six people, groups of families or friends will enjoy a day out on the water with these professional and fun guides.
Columbia River Fishing
With forty years of experience fishing on the Columbia and three decades guiding fishing tours, Dan Ponciano of Columbia River Fishing is a fantastic person to lead you out onto the waters all year long. With a 24-foot boat that comfortably seats 6 and all the gear you need for a great day, booking a trip with Dan will leave you longing for more fishing trips.
