Portland Salmon Fishing Guide

One of the reasons Portland is such a Mecca for Spring Chinook salmon fishing is that both the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet in Portland. This means that the two largest Spring salmon runs meet in the state’s largest city. Because the Columbia River narrows as it runs through Portland, it provides a perfect opportunity to guide clients to catch these amazing fish.

Spring Chinook salmon are the most sought-after salmon species bar none. This fish has the most oil-flavored omega-3 fat meat of any salmon. These fish arrive in mid-March and traveling over 800 miles to spawn in late fall. Once you catch one of these fish and barbecue with your closest friends, you’ll understand why it’s worth the wait. This salmon is the finest tasting on the entire West Coast, and its available six months out of the year from Oregon waters.

In the Portland area, the Columbia River is our backyard and we fish its salmon seasons with clients who are both local and international. The Portland salmon fishery is world-class! Not only are spring Chinook salmon abundant, but the Portland region of the Columbia River is breathtakingly beautiful. If you’ve never been to Portland for a fishing charter, you’re in for a treat: the forests are green, Mt. Hood is snowcapped, and the Columbia River Gorge has rock formations and cliffs that are nothing if not impressive.

If you’re looking for a reason to make summer plan for a guided salmon fishing trip in Portland, look no further than summer fishing for “June Hogs” in Portland. June Hogs is the name affectionately given to the Summer run of Chinook salmon on the Columbia River. The reason is the notorious size of these fish! In the hay day of Columbia River salmon fishing, June Hogs could weigh as much as 70 pounds! While still possible, such monster salmon are far less common; but the June Hogs still earn their name by being among the largest of the fish you can catch on the Columbia, even today. Often weighing in at 20 or more pounds, Summer Chinook salmon are great fighting fish as they make their way on their 800 mile journey to spawning grounds.

True to their name, the best season for these fish is in June. But if your plans extend later in the summer, have no fear, we’ve got you covered. Chinook salmon season runs Spring through Fall, and we’ve had great results for Portland salmon guide trips in late Summer, too. Of course, with summer vacation plans for many at their peak in the Summer months, we recommend booking ahead to reserve your spot. Weekends are the most popular days to fish, but the fish keep swimming regardless of the day of the week, so save your spot with our Portland salmon fishing guide for as little as $100 down and the rest due the day of your salmon fishing trip.

Whether you call them “June Hogs” or simply the “King” salmon of the Chinook species, your adventure in Portland awaits — and we’ll be happy to hook you up with a great day on the water!

There’s a reason that Portland is such a popular fishery for spring Chinook salmon charters: they fight hard and taste delicious. The Portland spring Chinook salmon run features salmon averaging 8-12 pounds, with some larger fish in the 12-20 pound range. And there’s a reason they are so tasty: spring-run Chinook are mostly stream-type salmon, which means they spend more of their juvenile years in freshwater streams and rivers, allowing them to gain size and strength before they journey to the ocean.

The Columbia River is the best place to hook a spring Chinook salmon but we recommend hiring a professional salmon fishing guide to help ensure success. The guides that run our salmon fishing charter know the river and stay current on the latest reports. For more details on what to expect from your salmon fishing guide, just click here.