Oregon's Fish Story
If you hail from outside the Northwest, you might not know that chinook is one of five salmon species found in the Pacific. It is larger than the others (chum, coho, pink, sockeye), weighing in at an average 20 pounds, with some (albeit rarely) tipping the scales at 100, and is often the most prized. In fact, many consider chinook to be among the tastiest fish on the planet.
March through the end of April is traditionally the best time of year to troll for Oregon's legendary Spring chinook Salmon (aka Springers) as they return from the Pacific Ocean to the rivers. There are a handful of rivers-the Rogue, Columbia, Willamette-that have put Oregon on the salmon fishing map. It's both their bounty and their incredible beauty that attracts anglers from all over the world.
Please check with Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife for regulations (pdf) and fishing conditions.
More about Oregon's Fish Story
Don't forget to hire a charter for your next deep sea fishing excursion. Your adventure will be relaxing and stress-free!
1.
Oregon Coast
Before you go...download the "Fish Oregon" brochure for tips on fishing the Oregon coast. (pdf)
Head to the Oregon coast to get into some Springers. We've been hearing success stories out of Astoria, where the Columbia dumps into the Pacific, as well as Nehalem Bay, Tillamook Bay (Wilson, Trask, Miami, Kilchis and Tillamook rivers are all tributaries), Depoe Bay and on down to the South Coast where the Rogue and Chetco Rivers meet the ocean.
2.
Columbia River
Salmon fishing on the Columbia River, which flows along the northern Oregon border into the Pacific, can be traced back 10,000 years to Native American sites near The Dalles. And it was these dangerous waters that Lewis & Clark famously navigated more than 200 years ago (though they stayed away from the salmon, whose spawning red color they mistook as disease). Today, the dammed waters are less wild, but the same scenic beauty (sheer canyon walls, nearby waterfalls, wide-open stretches) applies. And it continues to be a popular place to troll for salmon, from Bonneville all the way to Astoria.
Fishing Stories from Travel Oregon Magazine | Check Monthly Fish Counts and Regulations
3.
Rogue River
One very glamorous angler helped put the Rogue's now legendary fishing waters, which run through Southern Oregon to the Pacific, on the map. In her Hollywood prime, Ginger Rogers purchased a 1,000-acre ranch on the Rogue (she named it the 4-R's for Rogers' Rogue River Ranch), where she spent many summers fishing with her famous buddies-among them, Clark Gable. Today, the Rogue, especially from Grants Pass to the mouth at Gold Beach, continues to be a popular spot to fish for Spring chinook.
Fishing Stories from Travel Oregon Magazine | Check Monthly Fish Counts and Regulations
4.
Willamette River
The Willamette River flows through the valley of the same name and dumps into the Columbia just after reaching downtown Portland. Popular spots to reel in Spring Chinook include from the falls at Oregon City to the Sellwood Bridge, and from the St. John's Bridge to the mouth.
Fishing Stories from Travel Oregon Magazine | Check Monthly Fish Counts and Regulations