Columbia River chinook bite stays hot for trollers near the mouth

What's next

With the new moon today, tidal swings near the lower river should run strong through the next few days, and that moving water is typically what pushes fish through the estuary. Plan around the changes of tide and the low-light hours at dawn and dusk, when salmon tend to travel and feed more freely.

High, warm flow at the upper gauge suggests fish will keep moving rather than stacking up, so trolling lanes near deeper channel edges are worth working. IFish.net Fishing Reports also mentions anglers downtrolling along the bottom in the same busy zone, so expect company on the water and keep lines clear of traffic.

If flows ease and temperatures fall in the coming days, the bite upriver should improve as cooler water draws fish in. Check river levels and the state regulations before you go, since closures and bag limits for salmon and sturgeon can change quickly.

Context

Mid-October is typically late-season for fall chinook in the lower Columbia, with the push winding down as temperatures cool and rains lift the river. A 64°F reading at the upper gauge runs warm for this point in the season, so conditions look a touch behind a cooler year. Anglers working the lower river are usually in the best part of the window now.