September Salmon Choices
Buoy 10 Astoria Salmon
Fall salmon season began last month at Buoy 10 in Astoria. We finished the Chinook season strong and immediately moved into Coho season last Friday. More and more Coho are moving into the Columbia River each day and we’re having a great time fishing for them. While it’s a Coho only fishery now, there are still plenty of Chinook in the area and we may catch some during the day. We simply release them, rebait, and get back to chasing Coho. As I’ve said before, it’s one of my favorite times in Astoria. Lots of fish, fewer people, and some nice looking tides and weather ahead. We’ve definitely been enjoying Buoy 10 this year!
Columbia River Salmon
The Buoy 10 Chinook season may be over, but that just means we target Chinook salmon farther upriver. We’ll be fishing on the Columbia River in the Portland area September 4th – 6th, and then following the fish as they move upriver. Double the number of adult Fall Chinook have passed Bonneville Dam so far this year as compared to last year, and the current Coho numbers from Bonneville are double the 10-year average. Salmon are moving throughout the river system and I’m looking forward to heading east of Portland to fish the Columbia River Gorge.
From September 1st to 8th, we’ll be hover fishing near the mouth of the Deschutes River. Look at the photo below to see what we caught today! The mainstream of the river closes on the 8th and opens again on September 23rd. At that point we’ll be back on the Columbia River, hover fishing by the Deschutes River and also near the mouth of the Klickitat River into October. Drano Lake will also provide fishing opportunities on the Washington side of the Gorge throughout September. Many of our customers choose to stay in Hood River, or just make the short drive from Portland the morning of the trip. We still have some availability for these trips, so let us know if you’d like to get something scheduled. We offer private and shared trips for up to 6 anglers.
Tillamook Salmon
Fall Salmon season is underway in Tillamook. One of the special things about this area is that we can chase fish from the ocean, into 2 bays, to 5 rivers. That’s a lot of water to fish! Over the weekend we caught both Chinook and Coho Salmon. Coho retention is allowed on Fridays and Saturdays through September, when we can keep both hatchery and wild Coho. Chinook retention is open every day of the week, and are looking forward to fishing and crabbing (when possible) through the fall season. Combination trips provide an action-packed day on the water and are enjoyed by anglers of all ages.
A Look Ahead
Fall Salmon provides a variety of fishing opportunities, which continue beyond September. We’ll be fishing from the sleds in the Tillamook/Nehalem area through October, and then we’ll put the drift boat in to chase salmon farther up the rivers. In October we also add Lewis River salmon fishing into the mix, giving another option for anglers in the Portland area. Farther east on the Columbia River, we’ll be fishing near the mouth of the Klickitat into October.
We’re always happy to answer any questions, explain options, and help you choose the ideal trip for your group. Just contact us online or give us a call.