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Columbia River Fishing Update: Early December Patterns, Sturgeon, Walleye, and Steelhead Prospects
Published 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Description
Name’s Artificial Lure, checking in with your Columbia River Portland report.
We’re sliding into that classic early‑December pattern: cool, gray, and wet, with the river running cold and a little colored after steady rains. FishingReminder’s Vancouver outlook notes typical winter temps in the low 40s to low 50s with showers and light east wind, so bundle up and plan on a damp day.
According to Tide-Forecast’s Portland section, sunrise is right around **7:06 a.m.** and sunset about **5:34 p.m.** The Columbia’s upriver flow mutes the ocean tide, but you’ll still see subtle pushes; out toward Longview and Stella, Tides.net shows early‑morning highs and late‑morning lows, which means your best bite windows around Portland will mirror that first light period and the late‑afternoon swing when current softens.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recreation report from December 4 says winter steelhead are just starting to show in lower Columbia tribs, but it’s still early and fish are scattered. Think of metro winter steelhead right now as bonus fish. The Guide’s Forecast’s Portland/Metro report this week flat‑out calls mainstem salmon and steelhead “on hold,” with most serious folks shifting to the coast or to reservoir trout. That tells you expectations on the big river itself should be modest.
Catch reports the last few days have leaned toward:
- A few **keeper sturgeon** caught and released in the harbor and down toward the mouth of the Willamette on sand shrimp and smelt.
- Scattered **late coho** and dark fall Chinook reported mostly below the Portland stretch; above Westport, The Guide’s Forecast notes the Columbia is essentially wrapped for salmon.
- Light action for **walleye** in the Vancouver and Camas sloughs, with small eaters showing for the folks willing to grind jigs in the deeper slots.
For tactics, think winter mode:
- For **sturgeon**, best bait is still **sand shrimp, smelt, and squid strips** on stout leaders, fished on the edge of the channel or any inside turn that softens the current.
- For **walleye**, go with **1/2–3/4 oz jig heads** tipped with soft‑plastic grubs or ringworms in chartreuse, white, and motor oil, or slowly pull **worm harnesses** with nightcrawlers when the wind allows.
- If you’re swinging for that unicorn early **steelhead** in nearby tribs, ODFW and local shops are pushing **soft beads, pink worms, and nickel‑size yarnies** under a bobber, or small **1/4‑oz spoons and spinners** in copper and black.
Best artificial choices on the main river right now:
- **Walleye:** Rapala Husky Jerks, Shad Raps, or similar in firetiger, perch, or “clown,” trolled just off bottom.
- **Sturgeon:** It’s a bait game, but a bright slider and bead chain helps keep things clean.
- **Bycatch coho/Chinook:** If you insist, run smaller 3.5 spinners or Brad’s Super Baits in chartreuse and green with a herring or tuna wrap, but know seasons and closures before you drop gear.
A couple of local hot spots to consider:
- **Meldrum Bar and the surrounding Willamette mouth**: The Guide’s Forecast calls this one of the only realistic metro plays right now, mostly for catch‑and‑release sturgeon with the odd steelhead nosing around.
- **Camas Slough and the shipping channel edges off Vancouver**: Classic winter walleye water—deep, slow, and out of the worst current, especially productive during those softer current periods around midday.
Water’s cold, bites are subtle, and this is a grind‑it‑out time on the Columbia. Keep your expectations in check, watch the weather and river level updates from the National Weather Service, and fish those small windows of stable pressure and lighter rain—those are when this river quietly gives up the best fish of the month.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe.
This has been a quiet
We’re sliding into that classic early‑December pattern: cool, gray, and wet, with the river running cold and a little colored after steady rains. FishingReminder’s Vancouver outlook notes typical winter temps in the low 40s to low 50s with showers and light east wind, so bundle up and plan on a damp day.
According to Tide-Forecast’s Portland section, sunrise is right around **7:06 a.m.** and sunset about **5:34 p.m.** The Columbia’s upriver flow mutes the ocean tide, but you’ll still see subtle pushes; out toward Longview and Stella, Tides.net shows early‑morning highs and late‑morning lows, which means your best bite windows around Portland will mirror that first light period and the late‑afternoon swing when current softens.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recreation report from December 4 says winter steelhead are just starting to show in lower Columbia tribs, but it’s still early and fish are scattered. Think of metro winter steelhead right now as bonus fish. The Guide’s Forecast’s Portland/Metro report this week flat‑out calls mainstem salmon and steelhead “on hold,” with most serious folks shifting to the coast or to reservoir trout. That tells you expectations on the big river itself should be modest.
Catch reports the last few days have leaned toward:
- A few **keeper sturgeon** caught and released in the harbor and down toward the mouth of the Willamette on sand shrimp and smelt.
- Scattered **late coho** and dark fall Chinook reported mostly below the Portland stretch; above Westport, The Guide’s Forecast notes the Columbia is essentially wrapped for salmon.
- Light action for **walleye** in the Vancouver and Camas sloughs, with small eaters showing for the folks willing to grind jigs in the deeper slots.
For tactics, think winter mode:
- For **sturgeon**, best bait is still **sand shrimp, smelt, and squid strips** on stout leaders, fished on the edge of the channel or any inside turn that softens the current.
- For **walleye**, go with **1/2–3/4 oz jig heads** tipped with soft‑plastic grubs or ringworms in chartreuse, white, and motor oil, or slowly pull **worm harnesses** with nightcrawlers when the wind allows.
- If you’re swinging for that unicorn early **steelhead** in nearby tribs, ODFW and local shops are pushing **soft beads, pink worms, and nickel‑size yarnies** under a bobber, or small **1/4‑oz spoons and spinners** in copper and black.
Best artificial choices on the main river right now:
- **Walleye:** Rapala Husky Jerks, Shad Raps, or similar in firetiger, perch, or “clown,” trolled just off bottom.
- **Sturgeon:** It’s a bait game, but a bright slider and bead chain helps keep things clean.
- **Bycatch coho/Chinook:** If you insist, run smaller 3.5 spinners or Brad’s Super Baits in chartreuse and green with a herring or tuna wrap, but know seasons and closures before you drop gear.
A couple of local hot spots to consider:
- **Meldrum Bar and the surrounding Willamette mouth**: The Guide’s Forecast calls this one of the only realistic metro plays right now, mostly for catch‑and‑release sturgeon with the odd steelhead nosing around.
- **Camas Slough and the shipping channel edges off Vancouver**: Classic winter walleye water—deep, slow, and out of the worst current, especially productive during those softer current periods around midday.
Water’s cold, bites are subtle, and this is a grind‑it‑out time on the Columbia. Keep your expectations in check, watch the weather and river level updates from the National Weather Service, and fish those small windows of stable pressure and lighter rain—those are when this river quietly gives up the best fish of the month.
Thanks for tuning in, and don’t forget to subscribe.
This has been a quiet