Columbia River

The Columbia River, forming a significant portion of the Oregon-Washington border, represents an unparalleled and globally significant multi-species fishery. Its immense scale, diverse habitats, and prodigious anadromous fish runs establish it as a cornerstone of Pacific Northwest angling.

The primary piscatorial pursuits on the Oregon stretches focus on its iconic salmon and steelhead runs: highly prized spring, summer, and fall Chinook; active coho; and robust summer and winter steelhead. Formidable white sturgeon also offer a popular, albeit heavily regulated, catch-and-release fishery. In the vast mid-Columbia reservoirs, a thriving warmwater fishery yields smallmouth bass, walleye, and various panfish. Angling methodologies are as diverse as the species, encompassing precision trolling, back-bouncing, and plunking for salmon, specialized sturgeon baiting, and varied jigging and casting for warmwater species. Access is extensive, primarily boat-based from numerous public ramps. Regulations are unequivocally complex, managed jointly by ODFW and WDFW; strict, real-time consultation of the most current "Columbia River Zone" directives is paramount for legal compliance and sustainable resource management. The Columbia River offers a profound and challenging angling experience within a truly grand ecosystem.