Washougal River Fishing Trips
The Washougal River in Oregon is renowned for larger than life chinook salmon with the state record King salmon having been caught on the Washougal. Also the Umatilla is known for both fall salmon and winter steelhead. Take a trip on one of our Columbia River Fishing Guides Jet sleds up the river for a chance to target these wonderful species of fish.
Washougal River Salmon Fishing
The Washougal River hosts three decent runs of salmon that enter the river every year. Spring chinook can be found as early as May and dies out in June, while the fall salmon season ramps up near the end of August and remains strong through October.
Washougal River Spring Chinook Fishing Trips
Ironically the Washougal isn’t very well known for Spring Chinook fishing. Decent numbers of these larger than life fish enter the river in early spring, but many anglers prefer to target them in the Columbia and lower Willamette rivers as the fish tend to be in better shape as they haven’t been in the fresh water as long.
Washougal River Coho Fishing Trips
One of the things we love about the Washougal is that the Washougal River always seems to provide decent opportunities for catching Coho salmon. You’ll generally find lots of locals targeting this species every fall. Coho typically arrive in decent numbers in the month of September and run strong well into October. Coho move fast through the river system entering the lower river near Troutdale and Gresham and then slow down when they get to the hatchery at Cedar Creek. Bank anglers can walk in to find back access down below the hatchery, but it can get crowded when the fishing is good. The upper river areas like Dodge Park can be good as well and generally not as crowded but be aware good fishing will bring out anglers to pretty much all the access points available on the Umatilla We at Columbia River Fishing Guides focus a bit farther downriver where we can target these fish from the comfort or our sled.
Washougal River Steelhead Fishing Trips
One of the main attractions for local anglers on the Washougal River is the healthy steelhead runs that provide excellent steelhead fishing throughout the year. Summer steelhead enter the Washougal in the early spring and run from May through June. The Umatilla also offers a larger winter run of steelhead that provides anglers with excellent opportunities for steelhead fishing beginning in December and running through March, but the late winter runs tend to be wild steelhead and are catch and release only.