Columbia summer Chinook push begins as spring run season closes

What's Biting

What's Next

The Columbia's 172,000 cfs reflects the tail end of Cascade and interior snowmelt, elevated but typical for early June and trending downward as the season progresses. That gradual flow drop over the next two to three weeks will be the most important variable to watch: as current eases, holding water becomes more defined and salmon stage more predictably behind current breaks, along main-channel seams, and at tributary mouths. Anglers targeting the lower and mid-Columbia should watch for gauge readings trending below 150,000 cfs as a trigger for improved anchor-fishing conditions.

Water temperature at 61°F is essentially ideal for salmon biology. If regional temperatures climb through the coming days and early-morning gauge readings begin pushing toward 65°F, fish will shift their feeding activity toward pre-dawn and evening rather than holding through midday. The waning crescent moon through June 16 means darker early mornings, traditionally one of the better low-light periods for active strikes.

For summer Chinook: trolling plugs along main-channel edges and backtrolling roe or sand shrimp through tailrace runs below dams are the time-tested approaches on this system. As summer Chinook numbers build over the next two to three weeks, drift-boat pressure in the canyon sections typically increases. Plan to launch before first light to secure productive water.

For white sturgeon: the Columbia's resident population distributes across the lower and mid-river throughout June. Anchored-bottom presentations with smelt, sand shrimp, or nightcrawlers in the 30- to 60-foot trough sections produce consistently at this time of year. Retention windows change frequently based on fish counts. Confirm current rules with ODFW before keeping any sturgeon.

Summer steelhead begin entering the Columbia in earnest from mid-June onward. If upcoming angler reports confirm fish above Bonneville, drift fishing with jigs or bait in faster seam water will be the approach to pursue. Expect numbers to build through July.

The weekend of June 14–15 offers a favorable moon and reasonable temperatures for an early-morning Columbia trip. Time on the water before 8 a.m. will typically outperform midday fishing at this stage of the season, as fish stack in shaded seam water once light levels rise.

Context

Mid-June on the Columbia historically marks one of the season's most compressed transition windows. The spring Chinook fishery, which anchors the region's earliest guided trips starting in March, peaks in April and May. Regulations on many sections typically close by mid-June as in-season run counts drive emergency adjustments. What follows is the summer Chinook run, a later, warmer-water migration that moves through the system from June through August.

By historic norms, 61°F water in the second week of June is solidly within range for this system. The Columbia often sees temperatures climb through July as irrigation drawdowns and summer heat push readings into the 65–70°F band, a level that stresses salmon and compresses the productive bite window. The current reading suggests the river is on a normal mid-June trajectory rather than running abnormally warm.

Flow at 172,000 cfs is consistent with a normal early-June snowmelt regime for the Columbia basin. Peak spring runoff typically occurs between mid-May and early June; by mid-June, flows are generally receding. If the pattern holds, the river should ease into a more fishable range through the balance of the month, which historically coincides with one of the better pre-heat-wave salmon windows.

None of the angler-intel feeds reviewed for this report contained Columbia River-specific reports, so there is no direct testimony to compare against prior seasons. Without charter or shop input, it is not possible to say whether this year's spring Chinook return ran above or below average, or whether summer fish are arriving on schedule. Anglers planning trips should consult ODFW's weekly recreational fishing report for the most current run-count data and any emergency regulation changes.