Smiling angler on a boat holding up two shad he just caught, with open water and a cloudy blue sky behind him

Oregon · Washington · June to July

Columbia River Shad Fishing Guide

Book a shad trip Call / Text (541) 357-6577

A summer run, fast action, and a whole boat for your group.

Run: June to July; A short summer season
The boat: All yours; Up to 6 anglers
The day: 8 hours; Rods and tackle provided
The price: $600; For the whole boat, not per angler

The run

A summer run the whole group can fish

Shad come up the Columbia in early summer, and for a few weeks the fishing is fast.

It is a lively, easy day that suits all ages, which makes it a good first trip for families and groups.

$600 for the whole boat
6 anglers at most
$100 each, with a full boat

Young angler in a dark jacket holding a shad on the boat

Boy in a blue life jacket holding up a shad

Smiling woman in a white cap holding up a shad inside the boat

When to fish

Shad: a short summer run

Shad are one of the shortest windows we fish. The bars show when, and what else is running beside them.

October: Shad is out of season. Running now: Walleye, Sturgeon (fall–winter), Salmon (fall), Steelhead (fall–winter).

Typical fishing months for each species, from our season calendar
Species	Window	Typical months	Fishing now
Walleye	Year-round	All year	Yes
Sturgeon	Keeper	January to March	No
Sturgeon	Spring	April to May	No
Sturgeon	Oversize	June to August	No
Sturgeon	Fall–winter	September to December	Yes
Salmon	Spring	April to May	No
Salmon	Summer	June to July	No
Salmon	Fall	August to October	Yes
Steelhead	Winter	January to March	No
Steelhead	Fall–winter	September to December	Yes
Shad	Run	June to July	No

The trip

Fish shad with us

One trip for the run. The price covers the boat, not each angler.

Shad, whole boat
The summer shad run
The whole boat for the short summer shad run. The price covers the boat, not each angler.

Length

8 hours

$600 for the whole boat, up to 6 people

Best for

A group day on the run, June to July.

Book the boat

Shad questions

Before you book a shad day

Short answers to what people ask us most about shad.

Still unsure? Call or text (541) 357-6577

When is shad season on the Columbia?

Our shad window is June to July. It is a short run, so call early to hold a date. See the seasons and runs.

How does the whole-boat shad trip work?

$600 for the whole boat, up to 6 people for 8 hours. The price covers the boat, so a full boat shares it.

Is shad fishing good for kids and beginners?

Yes. It is fast, fun fishing for all ages, and your guide runs the day. Tell us who is coming, and their ages, when you book.

What do we bring for shad?

Rods and tackle are provided. Bring sun protection, a camera, lunch, drinks and your fishing license.

Plan the trip

Everything for your shad day

Other fish we guide

Field notes

Shad fishing on the Columbia: the run and the whole-boat trip

The short version of how a shad day works. The tackle and the know-how are ours.

The shad run

Shad are a summer run fish on the Columbia. Our shad window is June to July, and it is one of the shortest we fish, so call early if you want a date.

The whole-boat trip

A shad trip is $600 for the whole boat, up to 6 anglers, for 8 hours. The price covers the boat, so a full boat shares it: about $100 each.

Rods and tackle are provided. For groups of 12 or more, call the group line at (541) 969-2537.

Booking a shad day

Book online with a deposit, or call or text (541) 357-6577. Run dates and rules can change, so we confirm them with you when you book.