A boat idles at the mouth of the Columbia in late August, waiting on the tide to turn. Coho don’t hold still. They stack up off Astoria, push through Buoy 10, then scatter into Portland-area tributaries as fall settles in. There’s no single day when Oregon’s coho season “starts.” Fish move through different waters at…

Most anglers fishing for coho salmon in Washington realize they are migrating from ocean to tributaries. So you can’t expect your ocean spot in July is going to fish well through November. You have to follow the fish up the river. Coho don’t sit still. They move from the open ocean off Astoria to the…

You’ve heard the stories. The ones about wild steelhead that strip line like freight trains, or runs of Chinook so thick you could practically reach in and grab one. Maybe you’ve driven past the Sandy River on your way to the gorge and wondered what was happening just beneath that surface. There’s a reason anglers…

Few places in the Columbia Gorge get salmon anglers fired up like Drano Lake. When the runs are in, the launch fills before sunrise and boats begin stacking into position long before the morning bite kicks off. It’s one of those fisheries that anglers circle on the calendar months in advance, waiting with bated (or…

When anglers fish the Clackamas River, no two trips ever seem to fish the same. On any given day, you might find yourself watching winter steelhead swim through current seams or pulling spring Chinook out of their holding zone before they head upstream.  Whether you’re targeting spring chinook, coho salmon, steelhead, or rainbow trout, your…

Every year, something amazing happens at the mouth of the Columbia River. Countless fish push through the stretch of water between Astoria and Ilwaco, and anglers from all over the country show up ready to get in on the action. If you’ve been thinking about making the trip, you already know Buoy 10 is one…

Few fishing experiences rival the rush of hooking into a summer Chinook. Anglers across the Pacific Northwest share the same excitement for this challenging fish. It’s natural to want to take on that fight and see if you can bring one of these legendary salmon to the net. The good news is that there are…

Just as the sun begins to rise over the river, a sudden tug on the line breaks the morning silence. For many anglers, moments like this are what make fishing on the Willamette unforgettable.  Flowing through the heart of Oregon, the Willamette River offers more than spectacular views; it provides some of the area’s most…

Each kind of fish presents different challenges to sports fishermen. Summer salmon has its own unique story to tell, and it’s your job to pick up on what makes this species tick. Becoming versed in the habits of summer salmon will help you adjust your fishing strategy to successfully capture this desirable fish. Pacific Drifter…

If you’ve been fishing for a while, you’ve probably faced plenty of challenges, but catching a huge king salmon is still at the top of your list. You’ve seen those photos of giant fish and can imagine the excitement of landing one yourself. Of course, you know it’s tough. Crowded fishing spots, changing weather, and…