Columbia River Fishing Seasons and Runs
Walleye bite all year. The rest of the river follows the calendar: keeper sturgeon in winter, Chinook from spring into fall, shad in June and July, and steelhead from September into winter.
Season calendar
What is running, month by month
Pick a month to see which fish are in season. The dark bars are the windows we fish.
Fishing in November: Walleye, Sturgeon (fall–winter), Steelhead (fall–winter).
| Fish and window | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walleye Year-round | ||||||||||||
| Sturgeon Keeper | ||||||||||||
| Sturgeon Spring | ||||||||||||
| Sturgeon Oversize | ||||||||||||
| Sturgeon Fall–winter | ||||||||||||
| Salmon Spring | ||||||||||||
| Salmon Summer | ||||||||||||
| Salmon Fall | ||||||||||||
| Steelhead Winter | ||||||||||||
| Steelhead Fall–winter | ||||||||||||
| Shad Run |
Print this page for a copy of the calendar.
Six seasons
How the year breaks down
We plan the year in six stretches. Each one lists the fish we target.
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January to March
Keeper sturgeon season, with steelhead in the winter run.
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April to May
Spring Chinook arrive. Spring salmon is the most tightly regulated run and can close without notice.
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June to July
Summer Chinook, the short shad run and oversize sturgeon at the boat.
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August
Fall Chinook begin while oversize sturgeon fishing continues.
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September to October
Fall Chinook, sturgeon and steelhead are all in season.
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November to December
Steelhead are most plentiful from November, with sturgeon and walleye fishing too.
Run by run
Timing for each fish
When each fish runs, what to expect and where to read more.
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Walleye
- Year-round All year
Fished every month of the year. A slight wind and chop on the water helps.
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Sturgeon
- Keeper January to March
- Spring April to May
- Oversize June to August
- Fall–winter September to December
Keepers of 38 to 54 inches run in winter, and oversize fish of about 10 feet in summer. Keepers are held for the photo; oversize fish stay in the water at the boat.
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Salmon
- Spring April to May
- Summer June to July
- Fall August to October
Three Chinook runs: spring, summer and fall. Spring is the most regulated, summer brings the big June fish, and the fall run finishes in the Hanford Reach.
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Steelhead
- Winter January to March
- Fall–winter September to December
Most plentiful from November to February, with the larger fish in the winter run.
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Shad
- Run June to July
A short summer run, fished from a whole boat for your group.
Season questions
Before you pick a date
Quick answers about timing, winter fishing and changing rules.
Still unsure? Call or text (541) 357-6577
Which month should I book?
Can you fish the Columbia in winter?
Why can spring salmon fishing close?
Do the dates change every year?
What happens if the weather is bad?
The details
Columbia River fishing seasons explained
A plain guide to the Columbia River fishing calendar, from winter sturgeon to fall salmon.
Winter: keeper sturgeon, walleye and steelhead
From January to March our boats target keeper sturgeon, fish of about 38 to 54 inches that you hold for the photo. Walleye are fished every month, and winter steelhead are in season too, with the larger fish in the winter run.
Both boats are fully enclosed and heated, so a winter day on the water stays comfortable.
Spring: Chinook and sturgeon
April and May bring spring Chinook, alongside sturgeon and walleye. Spring salmon is the most tightly regulated Columbia River run and the season can close without notice, so call before you book a spring date.
Summer: summer Chinook, shad and oversize sturgeon
June and July are the summer Chinook months and the short shad run, fished from a whole boat for your group. Oversize sturgeon, about 10 feet long, are fished from June to August and stay in the water at the boat.
Fall: fall Chinook, sturgeon and steelhead
Fall Chinook run from August to October, and the run finishes in the Hanford Reach. Sturgeon and steelhead fishing carries on from September, and steelhead are most plentiful from November to February.
Rules and licenses
Seasons and regulations change every year and are set by ODFW and WDFW. Check the current rules and carry a valid fishing license. Questions about a date? Call or text (541) 357-6577.
