Columbia River Fall Salmon Rundown

10 short days remain until opening day of Columbia River Fall Salmon fishing for 2020. For fishing guides and customers alike, there’s nothing quite like the rush that Buoy 10 salmon fishing provides as fall runs of salmon funnel through the mouth of the river in Astoria. While Buoy 10 gets lots of attention, it is really only the beginning of two months of fishing on the Columbia River. There are multiple fisheries on the river, providing a variety of opportunities for both fall chinook and coho salmon fishing this year. Here’s a rundown of the opportunities.

Astoria Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing

Buoy 10 season in Astoria kicks off fall fishing on the Columbia River. An area of roughly 40 square miles of water allows us to chase salmon from saltwater to freshwater as they begin their run toward their birthwaters. The Buoy 10 Chinook season runs from August 14th through the 27th, and we still have some availability. On the 28th we’ll turn our attention to the first run of Coho that enter the river. With back-to-back fall coho runs, we expect to be fishing through September and possibly into October in the Astoria area. Coho season in Astoria is also a great time to do some crabbing, and we’re happy to oblige. There is no additional charge to throw the pots in during your salmon trip.

Portland Area Fall Salmon Fishing

Following the fish as they move up the river, we’ll be fishing for Chinook in the Portland area after Buoy 10 shifts to Coho fishing. This short season is open on weekends (Friday through Sunday), with availability on August 28th-30th and September 4th-6th. 

Columbia River Gorge Salmon- Just Added!

Beginning on September 23rd, the Columbia River re-opens 7 days a week, and we’ll be hover fishing upriver, around the mouth of the Klickitat. If you’ve never heard of hover fishing, picture bobber fishing, with the boat being the bobber. It’s a unique, hands-on way of fishing that works well in the Bonneville Pool. I’ve caught more fish in this fishery than any other over the last 5 years! Plus being east of the Cascades usually gives us some nice weather for our late September, early October trips. 

Lewis River Salmon

Just north of Portland, this Washington tributary of the Columbia River provides some choice fall salmon fishing from mid-September through Thanksgiving. Spend a fall day fishing various holes and different techniques on this picturesque river and you’ll have an experience to remember. The water in the Lewis stays clear, no matter the weather, and in shallow areas another perk is being able to spot a salmon redd or two.

We offer guided fishing trips on over 180 miles of the Columbia River. That’s a lot of water! We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have and help find the perfect trip for your needs. Feel free to contact us to book a trip or simply to find out more about your options. We’re here to help in any way we can.