SALMON FISHING & STEELHEAD FISHING
- Spring Chinook Salmon Fishing
- Spring Steelhead Fishing
In the spring STS will be salmon fishing for Columbia River Spring Chinook Salmon AKA “Springers”. Normally this run starts in March, salmon fishing on the Columbia River around the mouth of the Multnomah Channel and as the run picks up we target the hot-spots along the Columbia River, Multnomah Channel, Willamette River below the Oregon City falls, Bonneville Dam, Drano Lake, Wind River and going as far as the John Day to find these prized salmon. These trips will be out of the 25′ Willie Boat Raptor.
STS also offers Spring Steelhead (early Summer Steelhead) if requested. Some of the best Steelhead fishing in the northwest happens around April and May. With the spring snow melt and a lot of sunny days makes for great Steelhead fishing out of a very comfortable 18’ Clackacraft Clackamax drift boat.
- Summer Chinook Salmon Fishing – AKA “June Hogs”
- Summer Steelhead Fishing
- Catch and Release Sturgeon
Once the Spring Chinook have headed up the Columbia and are out of site, STS will start Summer Chinook Salmon Fishing & Steelhead Fishing on the Columbia River, both of which are amazing fish to catch. Chrome bright, hard strikes, spectacular jumpers, and long hard runs; you’ll never forget the first Columbia River Summer Chinook or Summer Steelhead. I target both of these fish in June and July on the lower part of the Columbia River, and is only about an hour drive from Portland (PDX). This trip is ideal for anyone who wants to get out and fish, it is a very simple fishery and the nice thing about this fishery is that the sun is warm, the scenery is beautiful, and there’s simply no better way to spend the day in the Pacific northwest. These trips will be out of a 25′ Willie Boat Raptor open sled that is fully equipped with top of the line equipment.
- Fall Chinook Salmon Fishing
- Coho Salmon Fishing – AKA “Silver Salmon or Silvers”
Starting Mid-August, STS will head back down to the mouth of the Columbia River to Fall Chinook Salmon and Coho Salmon fishing. This is one of the most popular fisheries on the West Coast, Astoria / Buoy 10! This fishery provides the opportunity to catch both Chinook and Coho Salmon, which makes the day exciting because you never know what you are going to catch. This fishery starts to be very productive around the 8th of August and will fish a couple weeks into September. Although there’s never a guarantee with fishing, limits are often the norm at Buoy 10!
As exciting as this fishery is, it’s is on the coast, which means weather and water conditions can rapidly change and it has been known to get rough. Also, when the weather and seas permit STS will cross the Columbia River bar and target both Fall Chinook and Coho in the Pacific Ocean. These trips will be out of the 25′ Willie Boat Raptor.
- Fall Chinook Salmon Fishing
- Coho Salmon Fishing – AKA “Silver Salmon or Silvers”
Once Buoy 10 / Astoria Oregon salmon fishing start to slow down, STS will follow the run of salmon up the Columbia River in the Fall. STS actually catches more fish in September, October, and November than all of the other months combined. Columbia River Salmon Fishing is by far the most productive fishery that STS fishes. It’s not uncommon to have two or more salmon on at the same time during this time of year. Due to the size of the fall run and a larger daily catch limit makes this fishery better that than some of the earlier season fisheries. This is definitely STS’s favorite time to fish; steady action and the easier fishing conditions makes this fishery ideal for everyone.
Starting with wobbler fishing at the mouth of the Cowlitz, Longveiw or Kalama area. Anchoring / back trolling plugs at the Bonneville Dam or hover fishing eggs and trolling at the mouth of the Deschutes , White Salmon or the Klickitat River. A lot of parents like to take their children fishing during this time of year because of the nice weather, the fish are plentiful, and our customers get the opportunity to feel the bite while holding the rod, being able to make the hook set on the fish, reeling the Salmon in and not mention that salmon fishing is a blast.
Lets not forget about salmon fishing around Tillamook County and Nehalem Bay!!! Tillamook county is a mecca Fall Chinook Salmon Fishery!!! Tillamook Bay fishing is up there on the list with Astoria / Buoy 10 fishing. You have Tillamook Bay Fishing, which is a trolling fishery very similar to Buoy 10. You also have Nehalem Bay, which is a short drive north from Tillamook. Nehalem Bay Salmon fishing isn’t as popular as Tillamook Bay, but the fishing is just as good or if not better. Once the rains hit usually mid October we will start fishing the rivers around Tillamook. These fisheries are drift boat salmon trips. There are 3 go to rivers that produce great fall Chinook salmon; the Nestucca River, Trask River and the Wilson River. These three rivers are major producers during October and November. If the these three rivers become unfishable due to rain there is the Kilchis River, which usually becomes very fish able when all other rivers are blown out.
- Winter Steelhead Fishing
If you haven’t had enough fishing in the Fall and you can’t wait for the Spring Chinook, you can always climb in the 18′ Clackacraft Clackamax drift boat and fish for Winter Steelhead. These fish are usually bigger than their summer cousins and put on a spectacular show once they’re hooked. Depending on where the fish are, we’ll either take you out on a smaller tributary out of the 18’ Clackacraft drift boat, or we’ll be side drifting out of the 25’ Willie Raptor on the Clackamas River or Cowlitz River. Either way you’re in for a treat when you hook with a beautiful fresh Winter Steelhead. This fishery is a bit more technical and the weather conditions are always changing, so you will need to keep this in mind, when you book a Winter Steelhead trip.