Willamette Spring Chinook Fishing Guide & Charter

Oregon Spring Chinook are the best eating, highest quality Salmon that exist in the Pacific North West.  Spring Chinook have a very high Omega 3 fat content  that gives them their fabulous taste.

Spring Salmon otherwise known as “Springers” enter the Columbia River in Astoria in early March. While some of the Salmon head up the Columbia River, a large portion of them head into the Multnomah Channel and migrate into the Willamette River all the way up to the Willamette Falls in Oregon City.

In the Willamette River where we primarily fish is a trolling fishery as opposed to anchor fishing.  The average Spring Chinook weighs in around 16 lbs with some reaching 30 lbs and above.

While the Spring Salmon bite can be a tad slower than Buoy 10 at Illwaco or Astoria in the fall. These fish are far better table fare and worth the time. The Columbia River below Bonneville and the Willamette River below the Falls in Oregon City is the area we fish and for a reason. This area is where the Salmon are in their PRIME condition freshly out of the ocean.  These Spring Chinook are bright, fat and full of energy, unlike when they are caught farther upriver, when they are darker color and the meat is soft.