The fall salmon season is open 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.
Steelhead are available in Southwest Washington streams and rivers
Walleye angling is excellent in the John Day Pool.
Trout fishing in the high elevation lakes is good, lowland lakes poor.
Panfish and bass fishing continues to be good in area lakes and the Columbia River.
Salmon/Steelhead
Elochoman River — 3 bank anglers had no catch.
Cowlitz River — Above the Interstate-5 Bridge: 28 bank rods kept 2 steelhead. 22 boats/60 boat rods kept 1 chinook and 50 steelhead and released 1 chinook, 1 jack and 3 steelhead.
Until further notice, the closed waters section below the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery Barrier Dam is 400 feet, at the posted markers.
Wind River — 1 bank angler had no catch. 1 boat/1 rod had no catch.
Drano Lake — 6 bank rods released 1 steelhead. 45 boats/110 boat rods kept 15 chinook, 1 jack, 22 steelhead and released 1 jack and 27 steelhead.(WDFW)
Columbia River main stem — The Columbia River at the mouth of the Deschutes River is closed to all fishing, including catch-and-release, as of Aug. 9 in order to protect summer steelhead that may be utilizing the cooler water provided by this tributary.
The area will remain closed to all fishing until river temperatures have stabilized below 68 degrees. This is unlikely to occur prior to late-September.
The closed areas are:
• All waters south of a straight line projecting from the flashing red USCG light No. 2 upstream to the lower South Channel Range B marker located approximately 3/4-mile upstream of the mouth of the Deschutes;
• The lower Deschutes River from the mouth upstream to markers placed on the downstream end of Moody Rapids. (ODFW)
Tongue Point to Buoy 10 catch rates have improved during the second week of fishing. Coho catches have increased the last few days. Chinook fishing remains fair.
Weekend checking showed 150 Chinook, 17 coho and one steelhead kept, plus 60 Chinook and 26 coho released for 394 boats (1,250 anglers).(ODFW)
Tongue Point to Bonneville Dam On Aug. 8, 591 bank anglers and 243 boat anglers kept 8 adult Chinook and released 2. They kept 43 steelhead and released 38. (WDFW)
Sturgeon
From the mouth of the Columbia River upstream to McNary Dam including adjacent tributaries — Until further notice, white sturgeon open for catch and release fishing only. Fishing for sturgeon at night is closed.
Troutdale Boats: Closed for retention. Weekend checking showed one sublegal sturgeon released for two boats (five anglers).
Portland to Wauna Powerlines: Closed for retention. Weekend checking showed four sublegal sturgeon released for one bank angler.
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam): Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed two sublegal sturgeon released for one boat (three anglers).
The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam): Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed four sublegal and one legal white sturgeon released for two bank anglers.
Walleye
Troutdale: Weekend checking showed one walleye kept for three boats (10 anglers).
The Dalles Pool: Weekly checking showed no catch for one boat (two anglers).
John Day Pool: Weekly checking showed eight walleye kept for one bank angler; and 69 walleye kept, plus 20 walleye released for 12 boats (ODFW)
