Columbia River Salmon Fishing

UPDATE: 2026 Columbia River Fall Salmon Seasons

August 4th, 2026:  Fall fishing kicked off at the famous Buoy 10 fishery out of Astoria on August 1st. We’ve had some incredible days of fishing already and we’re just getting started! From there it’s game on into October. Check out all of the details on the 2026 Columbia River Summer-Fall Fishery Plan from ODFW or simply scroll down to where we laid out all of the dates and important information so it’s easy to read.

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Columbia River Salmon Fishing

Columbia River Salmon Fishing is some of the best Salmon fishing in the world. We spend our time fishing from the mouth of the river in the Astoria/Ilwaco area to The Dalles. This 160+ mile stretch of river boasts Spring, Summer, and Fall Salmon runs. Essentially, there are Salmon in this stretch of the Columbia River from March through October.

The year starts with the arrival of the Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon in March. These fish are known as the best eaters of any Salmon in the world. I know this sounds a little like I’m rooting a little too much for the home team, but tests have shown that the fat content in Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon is 7-10 times greater than that of other runs of Salmon. These fish regularly go for $25-$35 per pound in the Portland area. I can’t imagine what they would cost in Chicago. Check out the options below and let me know how I can help you set up your trip.

Columbia River Salmon Report

August is here and that means Buoy 10 salmon fishing and the start of the Columbia River Fall salmon season. So many options to choose from throughout the year. Whether you’re in search of that bucket list Chinook or prefer the feistiness of fall Coho salmon, there are ample opportunities and miles of water to fish on the Columbia. The action isn’t limited to Buoy 10 out of Astoria in the fall. We also launch out of Warren, Rainier, and St. Helen’s in Oregon. Add in launch sites of Longview and Woodland, Washington, or head east to the Columbia River Gorge near Hood River, Oregon, and we have access to over 150 miles of river. Let’s go fishing!

2026 Columbia River Fall Salmon Season

Buoy 10 and other Columbia River fall salmon seasons have been set. The seasons are different based on the stretch of river. Bag limit for the entire season is 2 salmon, only 1 of which may be a Chinook. It seems like a lot of info, but don’t worry. We know where and when the best fishing should be. We’re always happy to go over dates and options with you personally. Here’s the breakdown:

Astoria Buoy 10 Fall Salmon

• August 1st – August 9th: All Chinook (native and hatchery) and hatchery Coho.
• August 10th – August 24th: Chinook and Coho. Only hatchery fish may be retained.
• August 25th – September 2nd: All Chinook (native and hatchery) and hatchery Coho.
• September 3rd – December 31st: Hatchery Coho only. FYI – September and October trips can also include Dungeness crabbing, making for a great fisherman’s feast.

West Puget Island to Bachelor Island/Warrior Rock

• August 1st – September 2nd: All Chinook (native and hatchery) and hatchery Coho allowed.
• September 3rd – September 30th: Closed
• October 1st – October 15th: All Coho (native and hatchery).
• October 16th – December 31st: Hatchery Coho only.

Bachelor Island/Warrior Rock to Bonneville

• August 1st – September 15th: All Chinook (native and hatchery) and hatchery Coho.
• September 16th – September 30th: Closed
• October 1st – October 15th: All Coho (native and hatchery).
• October 16th – December 31st: Hatchery Coho only.

Bonneville to Hwy 395 Bridge at Pasco

• August 1st – September 15th: Retention of both Chinook and Coho. Both native and hatchery salmon may be retained, except wild coho below the Hood River Bridge must be released.
• September 16th – September 30th: Closed
• October 1st – October 15th: All Coho (native and hatchery). Wild Coho below the Hood River Bridge must be released.
• October 16th – December 31st: Coho only. Wild Coho below the Hood River Bridge must be released.

There are numerous Columbia River fall salmon options to choose from and months of fishing to be done.

2026 Summer Columbia River Salmon Season

Our Columbia River Summer Chinook salmon season looks similar to last year’s. This year no adult Chinook salmon may be retained during the summer season. We’ll have to wait until August 1st for that, but we can chase other salmon and steelhead. From Astoria to the Highway 395 Bridge at Pasco (except for a section from The Dalles Dam to 200 feet upstream of the fish ladder) we can keep sockeye salmon from June 23rd – July 5th. Jack Chinook salmon and hatchery steelhead may be retained from June 16th through July 31st. It’s typically a short season and if we’re lucky it summer runs will coincide and giving us the opportunity to end up with multiple species in the ice box by the end of a summer day. Whether it’s Chinook, Sockeye, or steelhead that you find tugging on the end of your line, you’re sure to be in for a memorable experience fishing for salmon on the Columbia River.

2026 Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Season

The 2026 Columbia River Spring Chinook season gave us a few extra days this year. Retention was allowed from March 1st – April 8th, re-opening on April 11th-13th and April 14th. The final extension runs from June 5th through June 15th and will allow us to fish the lower river from Tongue Point up to Bonneville Dam. Retention during June will also be allowed above Bonneville Dam, with bank-only fishing below the Tower Island power lines. The daily limit is two adult adipose fin-clipped salmonids (Chinook or Steelhead), only one of which may be a Chinook. We’re always excited to get out and chase Springers on the Columbia during its initial short season. We spend the majority of the season Springer fishing in the Portland area on the Willamette River, and always look forward to extra days to chase Spring Chinook on the Columbia River. This year we have been given some additional days to fish the Columbia River for Springers, and we’re looking forward to the rest of the 2026 season.

• Columbia River Spring Chinook March-April
• Columbia River Summer Chinook June-July
• Columbia River Fall Chinook…Buoy 10 August-September
• Columbia River Fall…Portland Area Upriver Brights September
• Columbia River Fall Chinook….Bonneville Dam September-October
• Columbia River Fall Chinook at the mouth of the Klickitat River September-October

For any questions you might have, or to simply book a trip, feel free to contact us. We’re always happy to help in any way we can.

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