(503) 826-7294Quick Book

Field guide

Oregon target species

What's biting, when, and how we catch it.

Chinook Salmon

Oncorhynchus tshawytschaFamily Salmonidae

Weight
10-50 lb
Length
30-59 in
Habitat
Onshore, nearshore, river and lake environments

Spring and early Chinook run March through July on the Columbia and Willamette rivers. Fall salmon follow from August through November, with fall Chinook strongest August through October.

Chinook Salmon: angler with a catch

Technique

Trolling with herring, spinners or plugs is highly effective for salmon, especially on the Columbia River.

Good to know

Presentation and depth control are key. The spring run rolls almost straight into the fall run, with only about a three-week gap between them.

Where we fish it

  • Columbia River
  • Willamette River

Steelhead Trout

Oncorhynchus mykissFamily Salmonidae

Weight
2-35 lb
Length
12-46 in
Habitat
Coastal rivers

Winter (January through April) is prime for steelhead fishing, especially on coastal and tributary rivers.

Steelhead Trout: angler with a catch

Technique

Drift fishing on the Wilson, Trask, Sandy, Clackamas and Nestucca rivers.

Good to know

Early mornings and tide-influenced windows often produce the best bites when river conditions align.

Where we fish it

  • Wilson River
  • Trask River
  • Sandy River
  • Clackamas River
  • Nestucca River

American Shad

Alosa sapidissimaFamily Clupeidae

Habitat
Runs up the Columbia and Willamette rivers from the ocean

Shad push into the Columbia and Willamette in early summer. Captain Clinton has not set this year’s window yet, so call for current dates.

Chinook, steelhead and crab months come straight from Captain Clinton. Shad and sturgeon windows are our reading until he confirms them, and sturgeon retention is only open for short, announced periods. Runs shift with the river and the year: call before you plan around a date.

Technique

Light tackle with small darts, grubs and shad flies worked near the bottom in the current.

Good to know

Shad come through in numbers, which makes them one of the best trips for kids and first-time anglers.

Where we fish it

  • Columbia River
  • Willamette River

Sturgeon

Acipenser transmontanusFamily Acipenseridae

Habitat
Columbia River and its lower tributaries

Catch-and-release sturgeon trips run all year. Retention is only open for short announced periods, usually a two-day opener, so most sturgeon trips are catch and release.

Chinook, steelhead and crab months come straight from Captain Clinton. Shad and sturgeon windows are our reading until he confirms them, and sturgeon retention is only open for short, announced periods. Runs shift with the river and the year: call before you plan around a date.

Technique

Anchored up over deep water with bait on the bottom, heavy rods and a steady hand.

Good to know

Catch and release is legal in Oregon all year, so a sturgeon trip is still on the table when retention is closed.

Where we fish it

  • Columbia River

Dungeness Crab

Metacarcinus magisterFamily Cancridae

Our crabbing charters run October through December.

Dungeness Crab: angler with a catch

Technique

Crab pots with fresh bait. Captain Clinton shows you how to bait a pot and how to tell legal keepers from the ones that go back.

Good to know

Keepers are male Dungeness crab at least 5¾ inches across the shell. Female crabs always go back.

Ask the captain

Pick your species, pick your trip

Ask Captain Clinton anything: what to bring, which trip fits your group, kids, licenses. He replies as soon as he is off the water.

What can we help with?Tap any that apply

Want to book a date? Use the trip request form.