Fishing Report 5-9

🐟 Spring Chinook 

Spring Chinook are being caught just about everywhere right now. In the lower Willamette, Pro Josiah Darr and Pro Jeremy Toman have been finding steady success trolling herring and triangle flashers. Up in Oregon City, Pro Terry Mulkey is backtrolling with eggs and divers, as well as sand shrimp and divers. With warming water, it’s quickly turning into 360 flasher season — Pro Eric Baird has already made the switch and is seeing great results. 

The Columbia River is reopening for Chinook retention from May 9–22, spanning from Tongue Point to Beacon Rock. Anglers will be allowed two Salmonids, only one of which may be a Chinook — offering 14 days of opportunity on the big river. 

Drano Lake and the Wind River bubble fishery are also producing well. Pro Steve Leonard has been seeing near double-digit chances most days, with a wide variety of baits doing the trick. 

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🐟 Sturgeon (Catch & Release) 

Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing has been excellent lately. Anglers are getting bites on a range of fresh baits, making it a fun option for those staying local. 

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🐟 Bottomfish (Lingcod, Rockfish, Halibut) 

Bottom fishing has been hot. Pro Ted Teufel has been finding consistent action with shrimp flies and various colors of P-Line Lazer Minnows. Pro Bill Monroe Jr. even joined him and landed a massive 46” halibut. This fishery continues to offer up a mix of Lingcod, Bass, and Halibut. 

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🦪 Razor Clams 

Razor clamming has been incredible this year along the Washington coast. WDFW has announced the final digs of the season for May 10–15. If you’ve been waiting to go, now’s the time — these are the last digs until fall. 

🐟 Kokanee (Lake Merwin) 

Lake Merwin has been busier since the Columbia closed, but as the river reopens, expect pressure to ease. This means quieter days on the lake and more relaxing Kokanee trips for anglers looking to fill coolers with landlocked salmon. 

🎣 Trout 

May is one of the best times of year to chase trout across the region. Most stocked lakes have already received at least one plant, and more are on the way. Just last week, Benson, Timothy, Henry Hagg, and Clear Lake each received over 3,000 trout! It’s a great time to take kids or beginners out for action-packed days. 

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