Recreation Report
Columbia Zone
Recreation Report
-Photo by Joe Hulsey-
Columbia Fishing
July 24, 2025
Current and upcoming fishing opportunities:
Regulation updates for the summer management period (June 16-July 31) and fall management period (August 1- December 31) are posted. Please see the fishing regulation update page for details.
Angling for summer steelhead is improving.
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.
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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 (7/19) flight, there were 223 boats and 65 Oregon bank anglers from Bonneville down to the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
Gorge:
Weekly checking showed one Chinook, one sockeye, and 10 steelhead kept, and one Chinook, one sockeye, and 13 steelhead released for 97 bank anglers.
Troutdale:
Weekly checking showed eight Chinook and five steelhead kept, and 11 Chinook released for 31 boats (68 anglers).
Portland to Warrior Rock:
Weekly checking showed two Chinook, one sockeye, and one steelhead kept for 11 boats (27 anglers); and no catch for two bank anglers.
Warrior Rock to Rainier:
Weekly checking showed 19 Chinook and 12 steelhead kept, and five Chinook, three jack Chinook, and 12 steelhead released for 49 boats (122 anglers); and one steelhead kept, and one jack Chinook released for 52 bank anglers.
Rainier to Lower Puget Island:
Weekly checking showed no catch for 9 boats (20 anglers); and one steelhead kept, and one steelhead released for 29 bank anglers.
Lower Puget Island to Tongue Point/Rocky Point
Weekly checking showed seven Chinook and two sockeye kept, and five Chinook, one jack Chinook, and five steelhead released for eight boats (26 anglers).
Bonneville Pool (Bonneville Dam upstream to The Dalles Dam):
Weekly checking showed no catch for two boats (three anglers); and no catch for four bank anglers.
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 two sub-legal sized, 27 legal sized, and 98 over-legal sized sturgeon released for nine boats (40 anglers); and one sub-legal sized and one legal sized sturgeon released from one bank angler.
Bonneville Pool:
Closed to retention. Weekly checking showed no catch for two boats (three anglers); and no catch for four bank anglers.
The Dalles Pool:
Closed to retention. No report.
John Day Pool:
Closed for retention. Weekly checking showed one sub-legal sized sturgeon released for one boat (four anglers).
Walleye
Lower Columbia River (below Bonneville Dam):
No report.
Bonneville Pool:
No report.
The Dalles Pool:
Weekly checking showed 17 walleye kept for six boats (15 anglers).
John Day Pool:
Weekly checking showed 28 walleye kept, and 211 walleye released for 12 boats (26 anglers); and no catch for two bank anglers.