Columbia River Wide Open for Fall Salmon Fishing

The Columbia River is reopening earlier than scheduled, with an increased daily bag limit. Salmon retention will be open for the remainder of 2020, beginning this Saturday, September 19th. That gets us out on the water 4 days earlier than scheduled! The bag limit is being increased to 2 salmon per day, 1 of which can be a Chinook salmon. The Columbia River is a favorite river for fall fishing, and we took full advantage of the additional 3 days of Chinook retention on the Columbia River we were given last weekend. Depending on the day, we fished in Astoria, the Portland area, or near the mouth of the Deschutes River. That’s a whole lot of river to fish!  Currently the river is open for hatchery Coho fishing in Astoria, and we’re looking forward to Saturday, when the rest of the Columbia River opens again for fall Chinook and Coho salmon fishing.

Columbia River Salmon Fishing

We’re excited to get out on  the Columbia River when it reopens for salmon fishing on September 19th. We’ll be fishing from Astoria, through the Portland area and up above Bonneville Dam. The increased bag limit of 2 salmon may include both Chinook and hatchery Coho, with native Coho retention allowed above the Hood River Bridge. 1 adult Chinook salmon may be included in the 2 fish bag limit throughout the river. Above Buoy 10, up to 5 Jack Chinook salmon may be kept in addition to adult salmon, and beginning October 1st, the entire river will be open for Jack Chinook salmon retention.

We appreciate the decision to reopen the river early, giving us additional days on the water. We’re looking forward to being able to fish in multiple locations this fall, moving with the fish as they move through the river system. The short season of hover fishing near the mouth of the Deschutes River or Klickitat River is a totally different fishing technique than what we use in the Portland area or at Buoy 10 in Astoria. It’s actually my favorite fishery of the year… a combination of great scenery, gorgeous fall weather, and fantastic fishing. What could be better?

Lewis River Salmon Fishing

The Lewis River is located just a short drive north of Portland, and it’s already fishing well. These fall salmon entered the Columbia River in Astoria and are now heading for their birth waters to spawn. Right now we can retain hatchery Chinook and hatchery Coho Salmon as part of the 2 fish daily bag limit, and beginning October 1st we can keep native Chinook as well. It’s one of the many reasons we love fall salmon fishing on the Lewis, where we use a variety of fishing techniques as we fish different holes and spots throughout the day.

While October may be the prime month for Chinook salmon fishing on the Lewis, with all of the fish in the system it almost feels like October already. We expect fishing to just keep getting better each day we’re out on the water, and we’re booking trips through Thanksgiving for fall salmon fishing on the Lewis. Let us know if you’d like to get something on the calendar.

Let us know if you have any questions or would like to book a trip. We’re always happy to help.

COVID Precautions

Lance Fisher Fishing is taking COVID very seriously. Preparations have been made to be able to allow all of us to experience the 2020 fishing season. We’re thankful for the outdoors and that it is one of the safer places to be right now. That being said, we still want to be vigilant and respectful. You will need to bring a face covering with you. You can bring what you typically use, or purchase one of the many options readily available on Amazon. We have lots of room in our boats and many times 6’ of distancing is no problem. For the times that people and guides must get close, simply pull the gaiter or mask up. Know that part of being good at what we do is providing clean boats for your trip. While this is already SOP for our operation, know that extra steps are being taken so that we can enjoy our fishing experience and remain safe.