Effective Wednesday, the fall salmon season opened from Buoy 10 upstream to the Oregon/Washington Border above McNary Dam (see Sport Fishing Regulations Updates page for retention details). An estimated 375,500 fall Chinook and 213,600 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. Anglers are reminded that the Bonneville Dam spawning sanctuary is still in effect through Aug. 31 (see special regulations for details).
Walleye angling is excellent in the John Day Pool. (ODFW)
Trout fishing is still good in high-elevation lakes, but has slowed considerably in lowland lakes.
Warm water fishing is good in the Columbia River and local lakes.
Steelhead angling is fair in the Columbia River and its tributaries.
Salmon/Steelhead
Ocean salmon: The prospects for a good coho season at Buoy 10 are increasing. Fresh reports from several guides indicate that fishing for coho salmon in the ocean off of the mouth of the Columbia River has been very good. There have been lots of two-fish coho limits caught recently.
However, Chinook fishing is still poor to fair.
Mainstem Columbia: For the week of July 23-29, 635 Washington bank anglers kept two Chinook jacks, released three Chinook adults and one jack, kept 80 steelhead and released 74, and kept one sockeye. 147 boat anglers released five Chinook adults, kept 42 steelhead and released 15 steelhead. (WDFW)
On Saturday’s (July 28) Oregon flight, 115 salmonid boats and 66 Oregon bank anglers were counted from the Astoria-Megler Bridge to Bonneville Dam.
Boat anglers fishing in the Gorge averaged 1.00 steelhead caught per boat, while anglers fishing in Troutdale averaged 0.40 steelhead caught per boat. Bank anglers fishing in the Gorge averaged 0.23 steelhead caught per angler.
In the Goble to Beaver area, boat anglers averaged 0.88 steelhead caught per boat, while anglers fishing in the Estuary averaged 1.50 Chinook and 0.11 steelhead caught per boat.
Sturgeon
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam): Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (three anglers).
John Day Pool (John Day Dam upstream to McNary Dam): Closed for retention.
Weekly checking showed 10 sublegal, seven legal and two oversize sturgeon released for five boats (18 anglers). (ODFW)
Trout
The best bet for anglers wanting trout is to head up to Goose, Council or Takhlakh Lakes.
Recent trout stockings
No report on angling success.
• Merwin Lake (Cowlitz County) On July 16, 1,270 rainbow trout were stocked at 0.18 fish per pound. Another 2,228 rainbows were planted at 0.8 fish per pound.
• Mayfield Reservoir (Lewis County) From July 5-19, a total of 9,540 rainbow trout were stocked out at an average of 1.5 fish per pound.
• Mineral Lake (Lewis County) On July 19, 3,126 brown trout were stocked out at 2.5 fish per pound.
• Chambers Lake (Lewis County) Planted on July 5 and 18 with 2,000 rainbow trout at 2.5 fish per pound. (WDFW)
Warm Water Fishing
Lacamas Lake is doing great for bass and yellow perch. Riffe Lake is good for smallmouth bass and Swofford Pond is good for Channel Cats.
Walleye
Troutdale: Weekend checking showed one walleye kept for three boats (six anglers).
The Dalles Pool: Weekly checking showed three walleye kept for two boats (six anglers).
John Day Pool: Weekly checking showed 298 walleye kept, plus 24 walleye released for 78 boats (174 anglers).
