Fishing Report 8/29/25

Astoria 

Salmon fishing has been absolutely amazing this month! Chinook and Coho are hitting the deck of nearly every boat heading out. Trolling has been the top method, with most folks running lead and either triangle or 360 flashers. Fresh bait has been hot, with frozen herring producing especially well on outgoing tides. Those running 360 flashers are finding consistent success with small 3.5 spinners, Spin-n-Fish, Spindawgs, Superbaits, and Super Cutplugs. Pro Staffers Bill Monroe Jr. and Josiah Darr have been flat out killing it, primarily running 360 flashers paired with Spin-n-Fish. 

Techniques: Lead trolling, triangle/360 flashers, frozen herring, 3.5 spinners, Spin-n-Fish, Spindawgs, Superbaits, Super Cutplugs. 

Longview – Cowlitz Mouth 

This is your next big fishery as fresh Chinook push in with big tides. Wobbler fishing here can be absolutely next level. On strong outgoing tides, anglers anchor up in hot lanes with wobblers, anticipating explosive takedowns. When the tide flips, many—including Pro Robert Kratzer—switch to trolling 369 flashers with small spinners or hard-spinning baits. 

Techniques: Wobblers on outgoing tides, 369 flashers, small spinners, hard-spinning plugs. 

Bonneville Dam 

Below Bonneville, salmon congregate heavily and anglers take full advantage. Anchor fishermen are running Kwikfish, Flatfish, or Mag Lips, while trollers are deploying 360 flashers with small 3.5 spinners and hard-spinning plugs. 

Techniques: Kwikfish, Flatfish, Mag Lips, 360 flashers with 3.5 spinners or Spin-n-Fish. 

Southwest Washington Coho 

Coho are flooding in from the ocean and shooting into tributaries quickly. Early action is already underway, and things will only get better over the coming weeks. Casting plugs, spinners, and twitching jigs all produce well. Fishing eggs under a bobber or off the bottom is another proven method. When you find a school ready to bite, the action can be nonstop! 

Techniques: Plugs, spinners, twitching jigs, bobber-and-eggs, bottom-fished eggs. 

Bottomfish 

Bottom fishing remains strong, with excellent variety and solid Lingcod action. Pro Staffer Andy Martin has been bouncing between Salmon and Bottomfish trips, reporting steady success on Lingcod for those after “swimming fish tacos.” 

Techniques: Standard bottomfish rigs, Lingcod jigs/baits. 

Albacore Tuna 

The tuna bite along Oregon and Washington has been excellent all summer, though rough seas have limited long runs recently. When the weather breaks, Albacore remain abundant. Trolling tuna clones, cedar plugs, and X-Raps helps cover water, while vertical jigs, swimbaits, and live bait are top choices to finish plugging the boat. 

Techniques: Tuna clones, cedar plugs, X-Raps, vertical jigs, swimbaits, live bait. 

Columbia River Gorge – Walleye 

Walleye fishing continues to be a steady option. Trolling bottom walkers with worm harness rigs remains the go-to tactic. 

Techniques: Bottom walkers, worm harness rigs. 

Trout 

Local lakes are fishing well thanks to fresh stockings. Faraday Lake just received 1,000 trout, while North Fork Reservoir was planted with over 11,000. Bait is the top producer, with PowerBait and nightcrawlers leading the way. Boat anglers are also finding early morning success trolling Mag Lips or Flatfish. 

Techniques: PowerBait, nightcrawlers, Mag Lips, Flatfish.