Portland Oregon Spring Salmon Fishing

Portland Oregon Spring Salmon for 2025

With experts predicting a great run of spring Chinook salmon in the Willamette River, I am eagerly anticipating excellent salmon fishing in the Portland, Oregon area. Last year provided plenty of action, and with expectations of even more salmon returning this year, it is truly exciting. I will start my Portland, OR Willamette River Spring salmon trips in March. We will continue fishing salmon on the Willamette all the way through June. Book a Willamette River fishing guide or charter here

How to fish spring salmon on the Willamette anchor or troll?

I will be engaging in both activities, as my depends on the weather and the river speed. When trolling, I only troll downstream using 6 to 10 ounces lead. I prefer trolling with bait, and a flasher ensuring my sinker hits the bottom every few seconds. When a strike occurs, there is no doubt that the fish is present. Usually, when anchoring, it’s in the Upper Willamette around Oregon City, where there is more current.

one my favorite places to fish? Is the lower Willamette River called the head of the channel. The head of the channel on the lower Willamette River is a troll fishery using a flasher with Yakima bait spinfish or a Brads super bait.

To gain a deeper understanding of the Willamette River, you may read my latest blog post by following this link.

How many spring salmon can I keep on the Willamette River?

Spring salmon, you may only harvest hatchery fish. And on the Willamette River, you are allowed two hatchery salmon per day per angler. That means the adipose Finn must be completely removed and healed to be legal to harvest. Be sure to check with ODFW for current regulations as limits constantly. change on the Willamette River. Spring Chinook salmon is widely regarded as the best-tasting salmon due to its high fat content, rich flavor, and robust texture.