2019 Fishing Reports

    Late run of winter steelhead are now showing up as we roll into the middle of February. The season will continue through March going into early April when the Spring Chinook salmon are starting to show up in the tributaries. We run drift boat and jet sled trips for steelhead.

Spring Chinook season will start anytime and will run through May on several local tributaries in Oregon and Washington. The Columbia river season will be open through March which is common. There is several tributaries that will offer good fishing as we enter April.

  It is Prespawn Walleye time on the Columbia River and it will continue into late April early May. This is the time of year when you have that chance at catching the World or State record along with your personal best. The females are carrying thousands of eggs which adds lots of weight to the scale. Wea re fishing from The Dalles Oregon to tri Cities Washington on the Columbai River. We Jig, troll worm harnesses and troll crankbaits to target them this time of year.

  We still have a Keeper Sturgeon season on the Columbia river in the Bonneville Pool section of the Columbia River. Weather dependant for the trips due to winds and or winter storms. this area is located in teh National Columbai River Gorge scenic area. The limit is 2 fish for the year one per day 38-54" to fork of tail. this season is ran on a quota bases and can close at anytime rolling into February. we will have a keeper season in the lower Columbia in late May early June. The dates are not set yet and we are taking names to go on our call list once they are released.

Feb 25, 2019 fishing report

  The past week the Walleye fishing has started to pick up with more fish coming from the deep water up into the managable water we can fish. We are entering the prespawn period where these fish will be feeding heavily getting ready for the spawn. The males wil clean off the spawning grounds from predators like Sculpins and yellow pearch that eat their eggs. We have been running jigs and trolling worm harness rigs depending on the area and weather. The past week we have had big snow storms which dropped the barometer pressure and they were on a good bite just before the storm. Once the storm hit it took a day before they really got active again. The water temp is 36.1 and they won't spawn until 48 degrees. This prespawn will go into late April before the spawn. I have been averaging 4 fish per day in the 20-24" range.

    Steelhead fishing has been a bit slow however the late run of hatchery fish on the Sandy, Clackamas and the Kalama rivers have seen more fish starting to show. I will be back on the Kalama Friday through the weekend fishing from my 18' clackacraft drift boat. This is the time where you can catch that Trophy Wild Steelhead in the high teens or over 20 pounds and or a nice hatchery Steelhead. I will be running Steelhead trips through April going into May.

  Spring chinook forecast and seasons are set for the Columbia River and other tributaries. The lower Columbia Tributaries which include the Cowlitz, Kalama and NF Lewis are predicted to have a very low return so they have closed the lower section of the Columbia up to the mouth of the NF Lewis. The Columbia season is open now and will run to April 10th. After April 10th I will be fishing the Willamette and Multnomah channel in Oregon. In Washington I will be fishing the Wind River and Drano Lake in the Columbia Gorge. These season will run through May. Just because the Columbia season is short doesnt mean the season is closed. That is only on the Columbia which is typical. all of these other areas will be offering great oppurtunities to catch a tasty Spring Chinook. Dates are limited so if you want to fish in my boat pleasereserve youru spot soon.

  Keeper sturgeon is still open in teh Bonneville pool and the quota is 350 fish which i don't think they are even close. January and early february offered great weather for fishing this area, However a couple weeks ago things have turned into winter advisory snow storms with cold temperatures. This limits the availability for fishermen to get there and fish. I run a top on my boat with heaters to make the trip comfortable. My last trip was super bowl sunday and my son Corbin caught his first keeper 48" long. There is good fishing in this area if we have good weather to get to the fishing grounds. I feel the season will  go at least a couple more weeks but don't quote me on that. I will be back up there as soon as the weather allows.

Tight lines to all of you and I will have another fishing report in a week so please check back.

Steve Leonard