Recreation Report
Columbia Zone
Recreation Report
-Photo by Joe Hulsey-
Columbia Fishing
July 31, 2025
Current and upcoming fishing opportunities:
The fall season begins Aug. 1 on the Columbia River. Please see the fishing regulation update page for details on the season.
Effective Friday August 1 through Sunday August 31, retention of one hatchery steelhead is allowed in the daily adult salmon/steelhead bag limit for the mainstem Columbia River from the Buoy 10 line upstream to The Dalles Dam. All other previously-adopted regulations, including permanent regulations, remain in effect for these fisheries. Current regulations are available at: https://myodfw.com/recreation-report/fishingreport/columbia-zone.
Angling for summer steelhead has been good below Bonneville. Walleye fishing is excellent in the John Day Pool.
Announcements
For the latest regulations, including in-season changes
See the fishing regulations update page.
Fish consumption advisories
The Oregon Health Authority has issued consumption guidelines for parts of the Columbia River due to high levels of mercury and/or PCBs. Fish with these chemicals look, act, smell and taste like any other fish, so caution is important.
Sign up for the latest information on boater access
Marine Board's Opportunities and Access Report incorporates information from federal and state agencies, local facility operators and fellow boaters to provide up-to-date information so boaters can decide where to recreate and what to expect this season. Subscribe to receive email updates.
Click here to find Columbia River regulation updates for salmon, steelhead, shad and sturgeon.
SALMON, STEELHEAD AND SHAD
On Saturday's (7/26) flight, there were 100 boats and 69 Oregon bank anglers from Bonneville down to the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
Gorge:
Weekly checking showed one steelhead kept, and one steelhead released for one boat (three anglers); and 12 steelhead kept, and 19 steelhead released for 108 bank anglers.
Troutdale:
Weekly checking showed no catch for nine boats (13 anglers).
Portland to Warrior Rock:
Weekly checking showed two steelhead released for three boats (nine anglers); and no catch for three bank anglers.
Warrior Rock to Rainier:
Weekly checking showed 19 steelhead kept, and two Chinook, one jack Chinook, and 10 steelhead released for 27 boats (69 anglers); and one steelhead kept, and one jack Chinook released for 52 bank anglers.
Rainier to Lower Puget Island:
Weekly checking showed one sockeye, and one steelhead kept for three boats (seven anglers); and one steelhead released for 32 bank anglers.
Lower Puget Island to Tongue Point/Rocky Point
No report.
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):
No report.
The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam):
No report.
John Day Pool (Columbia River above John Day Dam and John Day Arm):
No report.
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):
Closed to retention. Weekly checking showed five sub-legal sized, 10 legal sized, and 22 over-legal sized sturgeon released for five boats (26 anglers); and no catch for one bank angler.
Bonneville Pool:
Closed to retention. Weekly checking showed 16 sub-legal sized, 11 legal sized, and four over-legal sized sturgeon released for four boats (12 anglers); and no catch for one bank angler.
The Dalles Pool:
Closed to retention. Weekly checking showed five sub-legal sized, 30 legal sized, and five over-legal sized sturgeon released for one boat (four anglers).
John Day Pool:
Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed one sub-legal sized sturgeon released for one boat (three anglers).
Walleye
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):
No report.
Bonneville Pool:
No report.
The Dalles Pool:
Weekly checking showed 54 walleye kept, and six walleye released for six boats (16 anglers).
John Day Pool:
Weekly checking showed 256 walleye kept, and 18 walleye released for 25 boats (71 anglers).