Columbia Zone
Table of Contents
Recreation Report
Sept. 11, 2024
If there’s not a photo, it didn’t happen
Submit your fishing photo to ODFW and we might use it here or elsewhere on MyODFW.com.
Current and upcoming fishing opportunities
- The Fall salmon season is open on the Columbia River. See regulation updates for details.
Announcements
Fishing for cash
The Pikeminnow Sport Reward Fishery Program pays anglers for each northern pikeminnow they catch in the Columbia River. Each pikeminnow caught helps a few more juvenile salmon and steelhead make their way to sea. The Sport Reward program season ends on Sept. 30. Read more about the program.
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 Sunday's (9/7) flight, there were 1,135 salmonid boats and 54 Oregon bank anglers counted from Bonneville to lower Lord Island.
Gorge:
Weekly checking showed 133 Chinook, eight jack Chinook, and five coho kept, and one Chinook, one jack Chinook, and two coho released for 108 boats (331 anglers); and six Chinook kept for 57 bank anglers.
Troutdale:
Weekly checking showed 172 Chinook, 30 jack Chinook, and 16 coho kept, and 10 Chinook, six jack Chinook, 11 coho, and two steelhead released for 514 boats (1,112 anglers).
Portland to Warrior Rock:
Weekly checking showed 164 Chinook, 15 jack Chinook, 24 coho, and three jack coho kept, and seven Chinook, four jack Chinook, and four coho released for 206 boats (523 anglers).
Warrior Rock to Rainier:
Weekly checking showed 311 Chinook, 23 jack Chinook, 65 coho, and one jack coho kept, and 166 Chinook, five jack Chinook, 27 coho, and three steelhead released for 276 boats (729 anglers); and one Chinook and one jack Chinook kept for 37 bank anglers.
Rainier to Lower Puget Island:
Weekly checking showed five Chinook and two coho kept for 10 boats (20 anglers); and no catch for one bank angler.
Lower Puget Island to Tongue Point/Rocky Point
Weekly checking showed two coho kept, and one Chinook, one jack Chinook, and three coho released for 10 boats (20 anglers).
Buoy 10
Weekly checking showed 87 Chinook and 1,134 coho kept, and 222 Chinook, 1,010 coho, and two steelhead released for 439 boats (1,344 anglers).
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):
Weekly checking showed 77 Chinook, 11 jack Chinook, and one jack coho kept, and 39 Chinook, two jack Chinook, and one coho released for 76 boats (222 anglers); and no catch for four bank anglers.
The Dalles Pool (The Dalles Dam upstream to John Day Dam):
Weekly checking showed 55 Chinook, four jack Chinook, and seven coho kept, and two Chinook and one steelhead released for 84 boats (245 anglers); and no catch for one bank angler.
John Day Pool (Columbia River above John Day Dam and John Day Arm):
Weekly checking showed three Chinook, four jack Chinook, and one coho kept, and one Chinook released for 18 boats (37 anglers); and no catch for one bank angler.
Sturgeon
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):
Closed for retention. No report.
Bonneville Pool:
Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed 12 sub-legal sized, six legal-sized, and one legal-sized sturgeon released for one boat (four anglers).
The Dalles Pool:
Closed for retention. No report
John Day Pool:
Closed to retention. Weekly checking showed five sub-legal sized, 11 legal sized, and five over-legal sized sturgeon released for five boats (17 anglers); and no catch for three bank anglers.
Walleye
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):
No report.
Bonneville Pool:
Weekly checking showed one walleye kept for one boat (two anglers).
The Dalles Pool:
No report.
John Day Pool:
Weekly checking showed 31 walleye kept and 19 walleye released for eight boats (17 anglers).
Regulation Updates
Regulation updates as of July 16, 2024.
The following regulations reflect changes or additions to the permanent regulations listed in the current Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations. All other permanent regulations remain in effect. Please see e-regulations.
Salmon, steelhead, and shad
Summer Season (June 16 – July 31)
Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to Bonneville Dam
- Retention of hatchery jack Chinook and hatchery steelhead allowed June 16 – July 31.
- The daily adult bag limit is one hatchery steelhead effective June 28 – July 31.
Bonneville Dam upstream to Oregon/Washington Border above McNary Dam
- Retention of hatchery jack Chinook and hatchery steelhead allowed June 16 – July 31.
- The daily adult bag limit is one hatchery steelhead effective July 1 – July 31.
Fall Season (August 1 – December 31)
For all mainstem fall-season salmon/steelhead fisheries between Buoy 10 and the Oregon/Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam), each legal angler aboard a vessel may continue to deploy angling gear until the daily adult salmon/steelhead bag limit for all anglers aboard has been achieved. Anglers are reminded that it is unlawful to fish in an area while in possession of fish that are not legal for that area.
Buoy 10 upstream to west Puget Island
Area definition: From the Buoy 10 line upstream to a line at the west end of Puget Island extending from green navigation marker #39 on the Washington shore to green navigation marker #41, then to red navigation marker #42, and terminating at red navigation marker #44A on the Oregon shore.
General regulations during fall season:
- Wild coho must be released.
- All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
- Permanent rules for size limits and retention of jacks are in place:
- Between Buoy 10 and the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line, adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are 16-inches and longer.
- Between Buoy 10 and the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line, jack retention is prohibited through September 30; Chinook jacks are not allowed if the retention of adult Chinook is closed.
- Between Tongue Point/Rocky Point and west Puget Island, adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
- Between Tongue Point/Rocky Point and west Puget Island, the retention of coho jacks (12–20-inches) and Chinook jacks (12–24-inches) is alloweda when retention of adult fish of those species is allowed.
- The Tongue Point/Rocky Point line is defined as: a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington shore through red navigation buoy #44 to the navigation marker at Tongue Point on the Oregon shore.
Additional regulations by date period:
-
- August 1–29: Retention of adipose fin-clipped Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- August 30 – September 3: Retention of Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- September 4 – October 31: Retention of hatchery coho allowed. All Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery coho.
- November 1 – December 31: Retention of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed. All Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmon/steelhead (coho and steelhead only).
West Puget Island upstream to Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island
Area definition: From a line at the west end of Puget Island extending from green navigation marker #39 on the Washington shore to green navigation marker #41, then to red navigation marker #42, and terminating at red navigation marker #44A on the Oregon shore upstream to a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to red navigation buoy #4, then to the piling dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island.
General regulations during fall season:
- Wild coho must be released.
- All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
- Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
- Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
- Retention of Chinook (12–24 inches) and coho (12–20 inches) jack salmon alloweda when retention of adults of those species is allowed.
Additional regulations by date period:
- August 1 – September 4: Retention of Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- September 5–11: Retention of hatchery Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- September 12–30: Salmon/steelhead angling prohibited.
- October 1–31: Retention of hatchery coho allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery coho.
- November 1 – December 31: Retention of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmon/steelhead (coho or steelhead only).
Warrior Rock/Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam
Area definition: From a line projected from the Warrior Rock Lighthouse on the Oregon shore to red navigation buoy #4, then to the piling dolphin on the lower end of Bachelor Island upstream to Bonneville Dam.
General regulations during fall season:
- Wild coho must be released.
- All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
- Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
- Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
- Retention of Chinook (12–24 inches) and coho (12–20 inches) jack salmon alloweda when retention of adults of those species is allowed.
Additional regulations by date period:
-
- August 1 – September 15: Retention of Chinook and hatchery coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- September 16–30: Salmon/steelhead angling prohibited.
- October 1–31: Retention of hatchery coho allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery coho.
- November 1 – December 31: Retention of hatchery coho and hatchery steelhead allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two hatchery salmon/steelhead (coho or steelhead only).
Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Damb
General regulations during fall season:
- Only hatchery coho (adults and jacks) may be retained downstream of the Hood River Bridge.
- All steelhead must be released August 1 – October 31.
- Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
- Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
- Retention of Chinook (12–24 inches) and coho (12–20 inches) jack salmon alloweda when retention of adults of those species is allowed.
Additional regulations by date period:
-
- August 1 – September 15: Retention of Chinook and coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- September 16–30: Salmon/steelhead angling prohibited.
- October 1–31: The retention of coho is allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two coho.
- November 1 – December 31: Retention coho and hatchery steelhead allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead (coho or steelhead only).
The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam)b
General regulations during fall season:
- All steelhead must be released September 1 – December 31.
- Permanent rules for size limits and jack retention regulations are in place:
- Adult Chinook are longer than 24-inches and adult coho are longer than 20-inches.
- Retention of Chinook (12–24 inches) and coho (12–20 inches) jack salmon alloweda when retention of adults of those species is allowed.
Additional regulations by date period:
-
- August 1–31: Retention of Chinook, coho, and hatchery steelhead allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead, but only one may be a Chinook and only one may be a hatchery steelhead.
- September 1–15: Retention of Chinook and coho allowed. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon, but only one may be a Chinook.
- September 16–30: Salmon/steelhead angling prohibited.
- October 1 – December 31: The retention of coho is allowed; all Chinook must be released. The daily adult bag limit is two coho.
a The daily bag limit for jack salmon in Oregon is five fish.
b Temporary rules for Thermal Angling Sanctuaries associated with Eagle Creek, Herman Creek, and the Deschutes River are described below.
2024 summer/fall salmon and steelhead regulations for Columbia River Zone Thermal Angling Sanctuaries (Eagle Cr., Herman Cr., Deschutes River).
Permanent regulations and/or new temporary rules apply for other sections of these tributaries.
Eagle Creek Mouth (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: The mainstem Columbia River adjacent to the mouth of Eagle Creek from the mainline railroad bridge northwest to a line projecting from a marker on the Oregon shore approximately 200 feet downstream of Eagle Creek, through red navigation buoy #4, and terminating at a marker on the Oregon shore approximately 325 feet upstream of Eagle Creek.
- June 16 – July 14: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
- July 15 – September 15: Closed to angling.
- September 16 – December 31: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
Herman Creek (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: East of the peninsula, from the mainline railroad bridge downstream to markers at mouth. Note: The Youth and Disabled Angling Area west of the peninsula is not covered here; see permanent regulations for this area.
- June 16 – July 14: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
- July 15 – September 15: Closed to angling.
- September 16 – November 30: Closed to salmon and steelhead angling.
- December 1–31: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
Herman Creek Lagoon (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: Herman Creek Lagoon/Cove east of a line from the northwest tip of the jetty, south to a marker on the Oregon shore.
- June 16 – July 14: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
- July 15 – September 15: Closed to angling.
- September 16 – December 31: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: Bonneville Dam to The Dalles Dam.
Deschutes River Mouth (Columbia River Zone)
Area definition: The mainstem Columbia River adjacent to the mouth of the Deschutes River from the Interstate 84 Bridge (west bound) north to a line projecting from the flashing red navigation marker #2 located approximately 1.5 miles downstream of the Deschutes River mouth on the Oregon shore, upstream to the red navigation marker #4, then to the lower South Channel Range "B" marker located on the Oregon shore approximately 0.7 mile upstream of the Deschutes River mouth.
- June 16 – July 14: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam).
- July 15 – September 15: Closed to angling.
- September 16 – December 31: See rules for Columbia River mainstem: The Dalles Dam upstream to the Oregon/Washington border (upstream of McNary Dam).
Sturgeon
See 2024 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations for legal size, daily and annual bag limits and sanctuary closure areas.
Columbia River Mainstem and Reservoirs, Buoy 10 to McNary Dam
- Except as listed below, retention of sturgeon is closed. Catch-and-release fishing is allowed except in the sanctuary areas downstream from Bonneville, The Dalles, John Day, and McNary dams during May 1 – August 31.
- The annual statewide bag limit is two fish, applicable to any/all 2024 retention fisheries.
Retention fisheries for sturgeon in Bonneville, The Dalles, and John Day pools are closed for the remainder of 2024.
COLUMBIA RIVER COMPACT ACTION NOTICES