Late-summer fishing is peaking along the Columbia River

Weekend Fishing Opportunities as reported by Oregon Fish and Wildlife:

The fall salmon season is open from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington Border above McNary Dam (see Sport Fishing Regulation Updates page for retention details).  An estimated 960,200 fall Chinook and 322,600 coho are expected to return to the Columbia River this fall.

White sturgeon retention is closed from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington Border above McNary Dam, but remains an option for catch and release fishing.

Walleye angling is good in Troutdale.

SALMON, STEELHEAD AND SHAD

On Saturday’s (8/6), 233 salmonid boats and 73 Oregon bank anglers were counted from Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam; and 608 Oregon boats at Buoy 10.  Anglers at Buoy 10 averaged 0.50 Chinook and 0.03 coho caught per boat.  In the gorge boat anglers averaged 0.67 fall Chinook and 0.33 steelhead caught per boat, while anglers fishing in Troutdale averaged 0.15 fall Chinook and 0.04 steelhead caught per boat.  In the Portland to Tongue Point area, boat anglers averaged 0.05 fall Chinook and 0.12 steelhead caught per boat.  Bank anglers fishing in the gorge averaged 0.02 fall Chinook and 0.11 steelhead caught per angler.

Gorge Bank:

Weekend checking showed one fall Chinook adult, one fall Chinook jack and three steelhead kept, plus four steelhead released for 64 bank anglers.

Gorge Boats:

Weekend checking showed four fall Chinook adults, one fall Chinook jack and two steelhead kept for six boats (19 anglers).

Troutdale Boats:

Weekend checking showed four fall Chinook adults kept, plus one fall Chinook jack and one steelhead released for 27 boats (59 anglers).

Portland to Westport Bank:

Weekend checking showed no catch for seven bank anglers.

Portland to Tongue Point Boats:

Weekend checking showed three fall Chinook adults and five steelhead kept, plus three steelhead released for 65 boats (154 anglers).

Estuary Boats (Tongue Point to Buoy 10):

Weekend checking showed 126 fall Chinook adults and seven coho kept, plus 51 fall Chinook adults and four coho released for 355 boats (1,174 anglers).

Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):

Weekly checking showed one fall Chinook jack and one steelhead released for three bank anglers.

The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam):

Weekly checking showed no catch for four bank anglers; and no catch for two boats.

STURGEON

Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):

Closed for retention. Weekend checking showed seven sublegals, 16 legals and one oversize sturgeon released for three boats (four anglers).

The Dalles Pool:

Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed two sublegal and one legal white sturgeon released for nine bank anglers.

WALLEYE

Troutdale: Weekend checking showed 26 walleye kept, plus two walleye released for 18 boats (43 anglers).

Portland to Tongue Point: Weekend checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).

The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam): Weekly checking showed 28 walleye kept, plus 14 walleye released for 15 boats (26 anglers).