Fresh Woodland Fishing Reports

The Columbia River spring salmon season has been extended through April 9th. These are prime dates as the fish numbers are impriving every day.

Columbia River Spring Chinook Spring Chinook are being caught daily in the Columbia River right now. As the month goes on the fishing will get better by the day as more fish show up. I am sure you have heard they’re the best tasting Salmon found anywhere in the world. The nutritious fat reserve these fish build to make their journey is where they get their delicious, juicy flavor. Why do these fish build up their reserve? Many of these fish will swim up the Columbia and to the Snake River where they will continue into Idaho. They will do this all without eating. Once they get to the spawning grounds they will hold in the rivers until September and October, then begin to spawn. To live that long, and go that far is why the need all of their fat built up. Tributary Spring Salmon The Springer action does not stop when the lower Columbia River closes on April 7th. I will be fishing the Willamette River which is predicted to get a return of over 70,000 Spring Chinook. Here I use the trolling methods used in the Columbia. Prawn Spinners are usually very effective here also. The Lewis and Cowlitz Rivers are supposed to have improved runs over the last few years as well. This is some of my favorite fishing. Hover fishing, back bouncing and bobber fishing are my three most productive methods of fishing here. The absolute best bite in the world is a Spring Chinook chewing on a bait of eggs tipped with shrimp all while holding the rod in your hand. Later in the season, when the bulk of the run is above Bonneville Dam, I will fish the mouth of the Wind River. This place truly can live up to its name. If there’s one thing you can count on here, it’s wind. Prawn spinners behind a Pro Troll style flasher are my go to when fishing here.

There’s 33,000 more Spring Chinook forecasted to enter the Columbia River this year than last. It is widely known that Spring Chinook are the best tasting Salmon. When fishing for them I prefer to troll a cut plug herring and triangle flasher a couple of feet from the bottom going down stream. Trolling with the current allows me to put my bait infront of as many fish as possible. With the currents in the Columbia River if you trolled against the current you might be in the same place for hours. On big tides, which cause the current to move very fast or in high water where the fish are looking for an easy travel lane, I find it best to anchor. Here I use a variety of cut plug herring or quickfish style plugs wrapped with tuna or sardine to entice a bite. It’s exciting to look forward to this spring, don’t hesitate to reach out and book your adventure. Winter Steelhead We are in the heart of Winter Steelhead season, overall fishing has been better than years past. This is the time of year we start seeing a variety of our wild fish. The wild fish tend to be our biggest Steelhead of the year. I enjoy this part of the season because all of the rivers have fish in them, which means the angling pressure is spread out through the state. It is not uncommon to have an entire river you yourself. I have found most of my success this winter using a float and bead. I believe the bead imitates an egg floating down the river. I have been told Steelhead naturally want to destroy any eggs because they do not want competition for their offspring. This seems very counterintuitive for the species to me, but mother nature has her own ways of doing things! The thrill of catching a Wild Steelhead on a cold morning in a secluded river canyon can not be beat. I still have some availability through the rest of my season. You don’t want to miss out on catching these fantastic fish.

It’s 2023! What does the New Year mean to you? To this angler it means New Year, New Prices and New Adventures. Let’s first take a moment to thank everyone who has fished with me in 2022. You are the reason I get to have the best office views in the world. If fishing this year is anywhere near as good as last years there is going to be lots of adventurous days on the river. More memories to be had and blood to be shed. BOOK NOW!! Sled trips will be $275/person and Pontoon trips will be $600 (up to 2 anglers). Winter Steelhead Some days theres really nothing better than fighting frozen eyes on your rod tip all morning just to have a Steelhead take line fast enough to melt it off. My Pontoon is my favorite boat to target Winter Steelhead. I am able to fish very small rivers or sections of rivers that Drift Boats or Powerboats can not access. This means we get opportunity to have it all to ourselves which not only gives us a better chance at catching these fish but it really makes for a peaceful day. Spring Chinook Last years Spring Chinook run was the best we have seen in recent years. There were a lot of days everyone in the boat went home with a fish. The predictions are out for the 2023 return and they are expecting 307,800 Spring Chinook enter the Columbia River. Thats over 33,000 more than last year. It sure gets me excited for these delicious fish to start showing up in our rivers. BOOK NOW to secure your trip starting the last week of March in the Columbia River.

Buoy 10 Salmon Fishing It’s that time of year again! With less than 10 days before the Columbia River opens for Salmon fishing I have been getting leaders tied, gear organized and bought all in preparation for the next couple of months. This is by far the busiest and best time of year for catching Salmon in the Columbia River. Its like a big Salmon catching party and this year I am expecting a lot of catching to happen. I will start at the mouth of the river at the famous Buoy 10 fishery. While in the lower part of the river I target these fish by trolling triangle flashers and cut plug Herring or whole Anchovies. This is an awesome fishery for anyone; friends, family co workers or customers. I have some limited availability so be sure to book your trip soon!

Ocean Salmon This year we will only be able to keep Hatchery Chinooks until August 24th in the river, then we will be able to keep any Chinook. Early in August when the Chinook are not in the river in full force the Ocean gives us a great option to fill the box. The limit is two Salmon, only one Chinook. Typically the fish are right outside of the mouth so the run is not too far and they are quite easy to catch. Right now the Coho gain about a pound per week before they enter the river to make their journey to the spawning grounds. If you want an action packed day the Ocean is the place to be!