Everything You Need to Know About Columbia River King Salmon Fishing

Are you planning on going Columbia River King Salmon fishing? You’re probably wondering how to go about it to increase the chances of successful catches. But before you get there, there are things you need to know about to get the best chances of getting a king salmon for yourself.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about Columbia River King Salmon fishing for your next trip!

About the Columbia River King Salmon

I know how challenging it can be trying to score a Columbia River King Salmon, especially if you’re new to this! That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though.

Before we get into effective fishing tips, let’s first talk about the king salmon.

King Salmon is a favorite for recreational fishers, also called the Chinook Salmon. It is known by other names as well, such as the blackmouth, quinnat, or the chub. Furthermore, they are known to be powerful fish, weighing more than 14 kilograms.

These fish would spawn in the large rivers of Alaska and California, though you may also find them in streams in the BC and Yukon. Production and spawning would occur in major river streams usually, including the Columbia River.

After the eggs hatched, king salmon would stay in freshwater, with the duration depending on water temperature. In southern locations, some king salmon will migrate after spending 3 months in freshwater, while others stay for up to 1 year. In northern areas, king salmon would spend at least 1 year in freshwater.

Since they are large and in coastal waters, they are a favorite prey for killer whales, with many commercial and recreational fishermen catching them, too. They are usually caught by hook and line fisheries, chasing and biting lures or baited hooks that are trolled through waters.

That said, they are an unusual Pacific salmon species, as the color of adult flesh would range from white to pink, until a deep red. They have a dark back and green-blue sheen, but they darken when spawning in freshwater, having reddish fins and belly.

Guide to Columbia River King Salmon Fishing

If you don’t know it yet, the Columbia River is the biggest one in the American West. Its grand size comes great fishing opportunities, which is why you find a ton of people fishing for King Salmon.

Catching king salmon isn’t as easy as 1-2-3 though. While fairly easy, it requires skill and the right fishing equipment. That said, here are helpful tips you can follow to catch king salmon in the Columbia River.

Use 360 Flashers

This tool was introduced a few years ago, which is different compared to the classic flashers. As the name suggests, this lure would rotate in a circle, with the purpose of increasing the area it’s presented. Besides that, it would also function as a standard flasher with various colors available to catch the light for attracting fish.

You may want to use this for better chances of attracting more king salmon. That said, be sure to use these flashers only when you are trolling.

Stack Wobblers

Wobblers are a classic lire for salmon, so this is a pretty helpful tip. Use two or three on the line rather than just one.

The common technique for bank anglers or expert boat fishers is to use 2-3 different wobbler colors or styles. This increases the odds of getting a catch.

Keep the distance between lures by at least 2 feet, lowering your line slowly. If you are a boat angler, you may want to consider using floats when the currents are slow.

Focus on Tide Turns

The Columbia River would be affected by the Pacific Ocean. When tides rise and fall, the river would experience the same until Bonneville Dam. Such changes in currents will agitate or inform king salmon and other fish, which would cause them to become more aggressive.

When the tide rises, salmon would ride the incoming water or slow currents and make their way upriver. When it falls, the fish would either go down near the bottom or go to the seas.

Invest in a tide chart and pay full attention to any tide changes. If there are tide changes, fish would make decisions, with slack or change tide being more productive fishing hours.

Try Dead Drifting

If you are fishing above the Bonneville Dam, the tides won’t affect the river. However, this will also be where you can find a lot of fishing opportunities, including those for king salmon.

From the Cascade Locks and above, this river is tamed and is now a series of lakes. To fish here successfully, head to the river or creek mouths. When the spring sun arrives, the fish will pause near river mouths, confirming where their home stream is. During the summer and fall run, the areas are havens to protect fish from warm water the dam creates.

From this area, anglers would use cured salmon eggs, which have dead drifted near bottoms. However, never take your eyes far off rivers, as the bites tend to be subtle. When you are hooked and it is salmon, expect bent rods and screaming reels.

Use Tuna Fish as Bait

There are reputable bait sellers popular in the area. It is best to use tuna fish, filling molded plastic lures with bait or scent. Tuna is a local favorite, which salmon are very attracted to. You can use this bait and troll it with regular or 360 flashers.

It’s best to use tuna as bait during the fall, though they are also effective during the spring and summer runs.

Wrapping It Up

There are a ton of fish you can find when fishing in the Columbia River, including the king salmon. With the right tips and strategies, you can achieve a few catches and even explore the many other fish species.

Hopefully, this article gave insight on Columbia River king salmon fishing. Utilize these tips and strategies so you can get sure catches and more salmon fishing opportunities now.

Everything You Need to Know About Newport Oregon Coho Salmon Fishing

Newport Oregon is an all-around destination when you want to go off-shore fishing. You can find a ton of fish species in the area, including chinook and coho salmon throughout the different seasons. Besides this, Newport is known to be a safer ocean access point on the coast compared to others.

Whether you are going on a charter boat, fishing from the shore, or through other means, you have to be prepared. But what do you need to know about coho salmon fishing and how can you get a successful catch or two?

Read on to learn more about Newport Oregon Coho Salmon Fishing in this guide!

What is the Coho Salmon?

Before I get into how to fish for coho salmon, what is coho salmon in the first place?

Coho salmon is bluish-black in color and has silver sides when in saltwater. It also has black spots on its back and upper part of its caudal fins. They are smaller and slimmer compared to chinook salmon, reaching around 39 inches long and weighing only up to 31 pounds, though on average, they weigh 6-12 pounds.

Spawning will begin from November to January, the eggs hatching come springtime. The fry will stay in streams for more than a year. Cohos will return to spawning once they reach 3 years old, spawning in the same area chinook would.

Newport Oregon Coho Salmon Fishing

Now that you know what the Coho Salmon is, the next question is: How can you fish for them successfully? If you’re in Newport, Oregon, follow these effective tips to get more fishing opportunities and catches!

About Coho Salmon Fishing

When you want to fish for coho salmon, you have to know that they’re pretty tough and ready to fight. While smaller than chinook, they are challenging to catch, with less-experienced anglers feeling discouraged. Coho salmon would trash and pull, using all their force once hooked, so be prepared and stay strong as you try catching them.

While strong, this makes them easier to find. They are aggressive, splashy, and social fish that love rolling and jumping on the water surface. Be patient and don’t leave to find them, taking the time to let them show where they are.

When differentiating coho salmon from other species, look at their mouths. Coho salmon would have black mouths and white gums. They would also have a maroon kye and dark back.

Where to Fish in Newport

The best areas to fish when in Newport, Oregon is anywhere in lakes, rivers, inshore, and nearshore locations. To be more specific, consider visiting Depoe or Yaquina Bay.

Depoe Bay only has 6 acres of water, is known as the smallest harbor worldwide. Even if it is small, it’s home to a lot of fish and great reefs, suitable for bottom fishing species like coho salmon. Depoe Bay has around 5,000 coho salmon and 1,000-3,000 chinook salmon annually.

Yaquina Bay is best suited for anglers who are offshore fishing. In 2003-2004, there were over 12,000 coho salmon!

Baits to Use

When packing baits, salmon roe is optimum when catching most salmon species. Besides salmon roe, you can prepare anchovies, herring, shrimp, or sardines.

For those who want to catch chinook salmon, opt for cured roe or green and red-colored lures and plugs.

Common Techniques

When you are catching coho salmon in Newport, Oregon, these are the best techniques to use:

• Drift fishing
• Fly fishing
• Spinning
• Trolling

If you plan to use a single all-purpose rod, use one that is between 8’6 to 9’6 feet long with a 10-15 pound line and sensitive tip. For those who want heavier rods that can handle larger fish species, invest in a casting rod and reel. For heavier rods, use a 15-20 pound line.

When is Salmon Season?

It’s best to catch coho salmon in Newport, Oregon from June to November.

For chum salmon fishing, it’s best to fish from July to October. For chinook salmon, March to October is optimum.

As for the time of day, it’s better to do so early morning, if the area permits it. Many anglers opt to fish early in the morning, getting their lines in the water when you begin seeing light. That said, many anglers also have better success catching coho salmon when the sun is up and it’s become a few degrees warmer.

Think about the changes in weather as well, which can make or break your day out catching fish. As the weather gets colder, it also turns off the bite. If the weather is unstable, wait for a few days until the weather clears out and the weather forecast shows little to no chance of inclement weather.

Newport’s Salmon Fishing Regulations

Remember, when fishing anywhere, they have limits and regulations to follow. You need to follow such regulations, which are based on the local government rules. Failure to do can result in your license being revoked, a hefty fee, and the risk of never fishing again!

In Newport Oregon, you are limited to catching two salmon per angler a day. The coho salmon will need to be over 16 inches long when caught. As for chinook, it needs to be 24 inches, while chum has no minimum length requirement.

How to Cook Newport, Oregon

If you caught chum and plan to take it home to cook, think of it as preparing any other salmon. There are so many ways to prepare salmon, such as:

• Canning
• Filleting
• Smoking
• Consuming raw
• As a burger patty

What Else Can You Catch?

Besides coho, chinook, or chum salmon, what else is there to catch?

You can also find cabezon, halibut, sea bass, lingcod, Dungeness crabs, and more!

Wrapping It Up

Newport is well known for coho salmon fishing, along with chum and chinook salmon. Numerous anglers visit the area as the salmon here offer nutritious and delicious meat. Plus, coho salmon makes for an excellent game, for all anglers to practice their fishing skills.

Hopefully, these tips on Newport Oregon Coho Salmon fishing gave you an idea of what they are and how to catch them!