Columbia River summer Chinook in stride as full moon peaks late June

What's biting

What's next

With the full moon peaking on June 28, the next two to three days represent a high-activity window that Columbia River regulars tend to plan around. Sturgeon in particular are often more responsive during the days bracketing a full moon, when tidal influence from the estuary pushes further inland and current pulses shift through the lower river. Salmon timing isn't as tightly correlated to lunar cycles, but the added current activity near the river's mouth often concentrates summer Chinook in the lower reaches as baitfish get pushed around.

Summer Chinook are the prize of the June and July Columbia River season and are typically moving through the system in earnest by late June. Fish that cleared Bonneville Dam in May and early June are now distributed across the mid-river and upper reaches, with fresh arrivals continuing to push upstream. Trolling herring or anchovies near the surface on a downrigger is the traditional approach in the lower river; back-trolling plugs tend to produce in the mid-river where fish stack in slower tailout water. Since no tackle shop or charter captain reports were available in this cycle, anglers heading out should stop at local bait shops along the Columbia for the latest on bite windows and preferred setups before heading to the launch.

White sturgeon tend to feed most aggressively at or just after the peak of the full moon, often in the early morning or late evening when current runs moderate. Sand shrimp, smelt, and cured salmon roe on a bottom rig fished in deep holes and current seams are the traditional offerings. Retention rules vary significantly by river section and season; verify current ODFW regulations before keeping any sturgeon, as much of the Columbia is catch-and-release only.

Looking into the weekend: late June in Oregon typically brings warmer daytime air, stable pressure, and the potential for afternoon westerly winds funneling through the Columbia River Gorge. Early morning and evening sessions consistently outperform midday in these conditions. If flows are running in a seasonally typical range out of Bonneville, water clarity should be reasonable, setting up solid conditions for both trolling and bottom work across the lower and mid-river.

Context

Late June on the Columbia River typically marks the heart of the summer Chinook season and a continuation of the white sturgeon fishery that runs year-round. Summer Chinook, sometimes called 'June hogs' in historical reference to their early-season size, have been moving upriver since May, with peak passage at Bonneville Dam generally falling between mid-June and mid-July depending on water temperature and snowpack timing.

This year's run timing is difficult to assess precisely without current USGS flow data or ODFW Bonneville Dam passage counts, but a late-June active phase is consistent with the typical historical pattern. High-snowpack winters, like the one much of the Pacific Northwest experienced heading into 2026, can push snowmelt runoff deeper into June and sometimes delay the peak passage window by a week or two relative to a dry-year scenario.

The Wired 2 Fish feature this week on a 1,200-pound white sturgeon caught on the Fraser River is a useful reminder of the species' upper range, though the Columbia River's Oregon population is managed separately under ODFW oversight with its own long-term dynamics. No direct comparative signal from charter captains, tackle shops, or state agency postings arrived for this update. Anglers wanting a real-time read on whether this season is running ahead of or behind recent years should consult ODFW's publicly available Bonneville Dam adult passage counts, updated daily and the most reliable available benchmark for Columbia River salmon run timing.