Spring Chinook tail end on the Columbia as summer run begins to build

What's Biting

What's Next

**Flow and temperature trajectory**

At 176,000 cfs, the Columbia is running in a typical early-June snowmelt window per USGS gauge 14105700. Flows on the Columbia generally peak in mid-June and begin a gradual decline through late June and into July as mountain snowpack exhausts itself. If that seasonal script holds, expect a slow improvement in fishing conditions over the next two to three weeks as flows pull back toward the 100,000 to 130,000 cfs range and water clarity improves in side channels and main-stem seams. We are tracking a modest downward trend as the realistic near-term scenario, not a sudden drop.

Water temperature at 62°F sits in a workable range for both Chinook and sturgeon. If flows ease and skies clear, temps could nudge toward the mid-60s by late June, which remains fishable for both species, though salmon will favor cooler, deeper water columns as temperatures climb.

**Chinook timing window**

Early June is a transition zone on the Columbia. The spring Chinook run, which typically peaks in April and May, is winding down through this period. Harvest opportunity on springer Chinook tends to narrow or close by mid-June in most Columbia River mainstem zones, so anglers targeting these fish should act quickly and confirm current ODFW opening status for their specific reach before launching. The summer Chinook class typically builds through July and into August, meaning the next several weeks represent a relative quiet period between the two major salmon pulses.

During high-flow conditions like today's, anchoring or back-trolling near current breaks, eddy lines, and tributary mouths tends to outperform open-channel presentations. Fish burn more energy fighting the main current and are more likely to stack in relief water close to structure.

**Sturgeon opportunities**

White sturgeon offer a dependable secondary target through the high-water period. These fish are not migratory in the same pattern as salmon and distribute throughout the Columbia corridor year-round. Bottom presentations with smelt, sand shrimp, or cut herring anchored in deep holes near channel bends are the standard approach. Columbia River sturgeon rules include slot limits and seasonal closures in specific zones, so verify the current ODFW order for your reach before keeping any fish.

**Weekend outlook**

The Last Quarter moon phase typically reduces surface-light interference during pre-dawn hours, which can favor bite windows around first light and dusk, particularly for sturgeon. Flows are unlikely to shift dramatically over a two to three day window barring a significant precipitation event. Plan early-morning starts to align with the best light transition, and check local forecasts for any frontal systems moving through the Pacific Northwest corridor this weekend.

Context

Early June on the Columbia River sits in a well-documented transition between the spring and summer Chinook runs. Historically, spring Chinook begin entering the Columbia in late February, peak at Bonneville Dam in April and early May, and taper through June. By the second week of June, most of the springer class has passed upriver or been harvested, and the summer-run fish are only beginning to stage at the river's mouth. This overlapping quiet period is familiar to Columbia regulars and typically produces lower catch rates compared to the peak spring weeks.

The 176,000 cfs flow recorded at USGS gauge 14105700 this morning is consistent with a normal to modestly elevated early-June snowmelt pulse. The Columbia basin draws meltwater from a broad swath of the Rockies and Cascades, and a peak runoff period in June is historical norm. A flow at this level does not suggest flooding; it reflects the system transitioning from peak snowmelt toward summer base flows.

Water temperature at 62°F is near the upper end of the typical early-June range for the mid-Columbia, which often runs in the upper 50s to low 60s during this period. The reading may reflect an early warming trend in the basin or reduced snowpack buffering, though a single morning gauge reading cannot confirm a multi-day trend.

None of the national fishing publications or regional blogs in this week's angler-intel feeds provided direct reporting on the Columbia mainstem. IFish.net Fishing Reports, the most locally relevant source in this week's data, contained lost-and-found notices from Columbia access points rather than species-specific biting reports. The overall picture is a fishery running close to seasonal schedule, with the primary uncertainty being the pace of spring Chinook exit and the exact timing of the first meaningful summer-class arrivals.