Is the Columbia River Open for Salmon Fishing Right Now?

One of the best places to fish for salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest is the Columbia River. Many Chinook salmon and steelhead make their way up the Columbia to spawn in the summer and fall, which is a very exciting time for anglers. But is it still possible to fish for salmon in the Columbia River? Let’s look at the rules right now.

Overview of Salmon Seasons on the Columbia

The salmon fishing seasons on the Columbia are carefully managed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Seasons, bag limits and other regulations are designed to allow recreational harvest while also ensuring sufficient numbers of salmon return to spawn.

There are spring summer, and fall salmon runs on the Columbia. The most abundant and highly prized quarry for anglers are the large Chinook salmon also known as king salmon.

Spring Chinook – These fish start entering the Columbia in February and peak during May and June. Springers make an arduous 900 mile upstream migration from the ocean to their spawning grounds. The spring season typically opens in April or May.
Summer Chinook – Summer kings enter the Columbia from June through August. The summer season usually opens in June or July.
Fall Chinook – The fall run migrates up the Columbia from August through October, with the peak in September. Fall kings are aggressively targeted by anglers and have the largest seasonal quota.

In addition to seasons focused on targeting salmon, there are also some opportunities to retain salmon during winter and early spring steelhead fisheries

Checking the Current Columbia River Salmon Fishery Status

The fishing season and regulations often change based on up-to-date forecasts of salmon returns and harvest quotas. So the best way to find out if salmon fishing is currently open is to check the regulation updates on the ODFW website.

The site provides weekly recreation reports during the salmon seasons. These show the current state of the fishery, reports of catches, and changes to the rules for every part of the Columbia from Buoy 10 upstream. There are also direct links to the official regulation update notices.

Anglers need to pay close attention to open seasons, boundary lines, bag limits, and other rules which are tailored to target and protect specific salmon runs in certain sections of the river.

Current Status – Late Spring 2024

Checking the ODFW recreation report for late May 2024 shows the following status:

The spring Chinook season from Tongue Point up to Beacon Rock opened on May 16th and is currently open through June 15th. This targets hatchery springers headed upriver.
There is an additional opening from June 1st – 15th from Tongue Point up to Bonneville Dam. This summer Chinook fishery allows retention of hatchery kings in addition to hatchery steelhead.
Sturgeon retention is closed for now. Catch and release fishing is open except for sanctuary closures from May 1st – August 31st below the dams.
Shad fishing is now picking up with good numbers moving upriver. Retention is allowed for shad.

is the columbia river open for salmon fishing right now

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Columbia River chinook “My 1st ever Springer! ” Columbia River Spring Chinook -Photo by Colby Kesch-

Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.

Current and upcoming fishing opportunities

Along the river from Tongue Point to the I-5 Bridge, the hatcheries for summer steelhead and jack Chinook opened on May 16.
Hatchery Chinook is open from Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19; Friday, May 24 to Monday, May 27; and Wednesday, June 12 to Saturday, June 15 from Tongue Point upstream to Beacon Rock. From Beacon Rock to Bonneville Dam, you can only fish from the bank.
Shad numbers are increasing at Bonneville Dam.
Walleye fishing has been good in the John Day Pool.

The Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program pays anglers for each northern pikeminnow they catch in the Columbia River. Each pikeminnow caught helps a few more juvenile salmon and steelhead make their way to sea. Read more about the program. ‌.

Because of high levels of mercury and/or PCBs, the Oregon Health Authority has put out guidelines for drinking water from parts of the Columbia River. Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is important. ‌.

Marine Boards Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.‌

Find Columbia River regulation updates for salmon, steelhead, shad and sturgeon by clicking the Regulation Updates button.‌

Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing Success with Tips!

FAQ

What salmon is in season now in Columbia River?

The Columbia River will be open for Summer Salmon, in addition to ongoing Steelhead, retention from June 16th through June 19th. This year we’re allowed to retain Chinook salmon, Sockeye, and hatchery Steelhead. With over 400,000 Sockeye salmon forecast, the river is open for Sockeye retention through July 31st.

Is coho salmon open on the Columbia River?

Open for adult hatchery coho salmon Aug 1 – Dec 31. Minimum length for adult coho is 16 inches. Retention of jack salmon allowed Oct 1 – Dec 31. The Columbia River South Jetty is open to salmon angling seven days a week when the fall Buoy 10 or adjacent ocean salmon fishery is open.

Where can I fish for salmon in the Columbia River?

As large as the Columbia River is, most of the Salmon and steelhead fishing is done in the lower 300 miles from Idaho to the mouth, with the biggest concentration of fishermen from the mouth in Astoria to Bonneville Dam located about 40 miles East of Portland, Oregon.

Is salmon season open in Oregon?

Every year, the Oregon Salmon fishing season and regulations are defined in mid-April. The season usually opens on May 16 and runs through April the following year. This means that Salmon fishing is possible year-round, however, the exact regulations on species and area will vary.

When does salmon fishing reopen in Columbia?

Salmon fishing in the entire lower Columbia, from Buoy 10 to Bonneville Dam, will reopen on Oct. 1. Fishing also is open upstream of Bonneville Dam with state sampling indicating a good success rate.

Will Chinook fish reopen in the Columbia River?

Fishing effort and catched in the Columbia River just upstream of Corbett, Ore., are beginning to slow as most of the chinook run has more farther upstream. (Allen Thomas for The Columbian) Salmon fishing will reopen Saturday in the entire lower Columbia from Bonneville Dam downstream to the mouth of the river.

Are there salmon & steelhead in the Columbia River?

Columbia River salmon, steelhead and sturgeon fisheries are very dynamic — with season details varying from year-to-year (depending on run sizes and population estimates) and frequent in-season changes. It is VERY IMPORTANT to check the Columbia River section of the Recreation Report for the current regulations before fishing.

Are chinook salmon coming to Columbia?

Those chinook mostly are bright-stock fall chinook destined for a variety of mid- and upper Columbia or Snake river locations. A run of 252,300 late-stock coho salmon is forecast to enter the lower Columbia starting about now and continuing until early November. However, coho bite poorly once they leave the estuary.