Salmon Fishing in Oregon: Best Spots for Salmon

man holding fish — (Image courtesy of Caleb’s Guide Service (Astoria) & Fishing Booker)

Salmon are a year round staple for anglers living in, or traveling to Oregon. Spring Chinook and central Oregon Steelhead are favorites to pursue and taking advantage of the seasons and the spawn can increase your chances.

Sitting at the westernmost part of the country, this coastal state offers a perfect habitat for salmon. The Columbia River itself is a major hub of activity for salmon as it is the major waterway inland.

The most major rivers that anglers often travel to are the Columbia, Rogue, Willamette rivers and they offer quite a bit of recreation for angling as well as for the whole family. Summertime in this area is great for the whole family.

Eastern Oregon offers great fishing for large steelhead that make their home in the warm water in the summer. Fishing in eastern Oregon is a great way to fish some great scenic locations and avoid the larger cities and sometimes crowded rivers.

Coastal fishing for salmon in Oregon is always fun and challenging as you compete with the tide and depending on the season, the weather. Summer yields bright sunny coastal days for fishing and there is ample opportunity for guided trips.

Spring Vs. Fall Salmon Fishing In Oregon

Spring and Fall are two very busy seasons for salmon of all species as well as other species outside of the salmon family. Typically, there are some differences between the three major salmon species depending on the season.

Generally, chinook will have a strong spring and fall spawn cycle. A smaller but similarly structured spawn will occur for Choh and Chum have a very small fall spawn.

Best Ocean Salmon Fishing Spots

Yaquina Bay

Yaquina Bay sits south of the city of Newport and offers great fishing for those trolling. There are jetties that can be followed when trolling that offer great fishing because they are near each other, bottlenecking fish into greater concentrations.

Chinook salmon run this area and can be fished very well in June of most years. A very popular spot for chinooks is the beach south of the coast guard station on SW Naterlin Road at the Yaquina Bay Bridge Trail. Try plugs and herring or anything fishy from shore.

Newport has charters available if having a guided experience is more to your taste with trips offered for the bay as well as offshore. In the fall seasons when weather can be turbulent, the seas themselves can be rough, using an experienced guide from the area may be wise.

Yaquina Bay offers one inlet inside the bay that offers great trolling as well. Salmon use this bay heavily as access to the mainland during spawn and it is a smaller city which is great if the big city vibe is not your thing.

Recommended Guides/Charters (Newport)

Depoe Bay

Depoe bay is a great location north of Otter Rock that offers great salmon fishing and lany charter options.

This location is very open to the ocean and houses Chinook, Coho, and Chum salmon for fishing. This bay does not run into any inland river so spawn fishing may not be as intense as other locations. This is however a great summer destination for great salmon fishing.

There are two spots that are great for fishing, Flat Rock and the North Reef. Trolling either location is great for salmon of all three varieties. Try trolling a circular pattern around each with baits and plugs for best results during warmer months.

Great fishing can be found here year-round but the optimal season for fishing here is the summer because of the lack of inland rivers which affects any spawn in the area. This bay is popular in the summer months so if using a charter is to your liking, book ahead.

Best Spring Salmon Fishing On Coast

Tillamook Bay

Tillamook Bay sits in the northwestern part of Oregon and offers a great fishing experience for salmon fishing, especially during spawn. Ocean fishing can be found in abundance on the point around the bay as well in the towns of Cape Meares, Oceanside, and Netars.

Tillamook Bay offers fishing for the chinook, Coho, and Chum as with any other saltwater connected bay but they will be more prevalent during spawn due to the very long Wilson River.

In the bay itself, the best locations are going to be trolling the inlets where the river begins. There are more than ten locations where the bay becomes a river and trolling the mouths of these areas will provide good fishing with plugs and bait as well as shiners.

For most bay areas where the water is not usually rough, local anglers like a chartreuse pattern blue fox spinner or shiner with lead to weigh the lure deep. Try live bait mixed with this method year-round.

Recommended Guides/Charters (Tillamook)

Big Johnson’s Guide Service (Tillamook)
Woodys Northwest Fishing & Fun (Tillamook)

Nehalem Bay

Nehalem Bay is just north of Tillamook on the Oregon coastal highway and offers a great second location for salmon if fishing the Tillamook bay area. This area is great for trolling the bay but it is an optimal place for shore fishing the open ocean.

Nehalem has a very large point that extends south nearly enclosing the bay completely and the entire stretch of the point is a state park with public access. If you want a day fishing without the boat on your trip, this is the town for you.

Chinook, Coho, and Chum can all be found in this location especially during spawn as with most locations. This bay does not offer as many inlets as the Tillamook Bay but Nehalem Bay is a very long and slender stretch that can be one long trolling run and if hit during the right time, bottlenecks tons of salmon into a small area.

Nehalem is quite a ways upstream from the bay but there is the town of Brighton on the bay’s east side that offers a small marina to launch a vessel from. This can shorten the time you spend traveling and give you more time fishing.

To learn what the best temperature for salmon fishing is, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Best Spring Salmon Fishing Near Portland

Columbia River

The Columbia River boasts the very best seasonal salmon fishing in the state of Oregon. It is not just the major river that brushes by Portland, it is literally a divider between the state of Washington and Oregon.

Fishing the Columbia can happen from many places because it runs far inland, past many towns and access points. If the city is not your thing, try traveling inland to fish but be sure the salmon are there when you go.

Salmon fishing on the Columbia River is similar to most other rivers on the Oregon coast. Bait works very well when trolling and fly fishing can be just as good. Species found here are chinook, coho, and chum.

Because the Columbia River is one of the most popular rivers in North America, there are ample charters and outfitters available for hire if a guided trip is what you are looking for.

The best time of year will be during the salmon’s mid-trip upriver as the portland area is not on the coast. Make sure the salmon are where you are going to be fishing. Spring fly fishing is very popular on the Columbia as well for more than just salmon.

Recommended Guides/Charters (Columbia River)

Sandy River

Located south of Portland and fed by the Columbia river is the Sandy River. Runnin to the southeast, this river makes its way for many miles past a few state parks and recreation areas that are great for some shore fishing. Species that call this river home seasonally are the chinook, coho, and chum salmon.

Floating the river is an option as well in certain areas where there are no rocks in the river and the rapids are safe enough to traverse. This is also a less traveled river than the Columbia River which is great for staying away from the fishing crowds.

Try flies and other surface lures. Yarn is a great choice for fishing this river and during the spawn, pink is a great color pattern to use. Sandy river has many locations that deviate from the river to explore and fish so take your time on your visit.

Recommended Guides/Charters (Sandy River)

Sandy River Guide Service (Troutdale)

Best Spring Fishing Central and Eastern Oregon

Yaquina River

The Yaquina River offers great fishing year-round but especially for salmon during the spring. Running inland all the way past Elk City, this river offers miles and miles of great fishing.

The majority of the towns that dot the river’s path have boat docking making stopping for bait very easy and makes a longer trip more possible. Boat traffic on the river can be busy during the spawn, more so during the spring spawn for chinook salmon so plan accordingly.

During the spawn, you can expect very high concentrations of salmon in the river the further upstream you find yourself because of the river’s width. A popular spot in the area is the Elk City area because the river forks at that location.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Portland, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Depoe Bay Creek (North & South)

Depoe bay is a great fishing spot as we discussed above but it also offers two great creeks to fish during spawn. Rivers make for great fishing if you have the boat and the resources to do it but a creek offers great shore fishing for the angler willing to hike.

Depoe Bay Creek North runs inland to the northeast giving fishing options to anglers looking for upstream access to a reservoir for lake fishing. Salmon runs can take a different turn here during spawn as some salmon will make this reservoir a spawning bed.

Depoe Creek South winds and turns through thick vegetation without reaching any significant water body and maybe a more difficult hike. The road does however follow the south creek for some time making it more accessible.

Northern creek fishes best with bait especially the reservoir itself but the southern creek is exceptional for fly fishing. Try throwing a fly in shady areas along creeksides with vegetation overhanging. Fish cool themselves in these locations and wait for food sources to travel downstream to them.

Best Fall Salmon Fishing on the Coast

Columbia River (mouth)

Coming in at the start of spawn the salmon will make their way to the Columbia River to begin their journey upriver. In the early spawn, this will be a hot spot for the salmon run.

Just north of the Gnat Creek Campground, there are a series of islands that are a hub of activity for salmon during the spawn. Trolling along, or through these islands and sandbars will yield good results with plugs and spoons.

Utilizing any of the small towns around the mouth of the river for easier access to sites nearby inland on the Columbia, the river is broken into pieces in several places making for good cover for fish migrating inland.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish the Oregon Coast, please check out this helpful article I wrote.

Siletz Bay

This bay is a great spot for fall salmon because of its location behind a beach blocking rough water from occurring in the bay itself. Fall weather can make for rough water and harsh conditions but Siletz Bay and Siletz River are the more still of the bays dotting Oregon’s coast.

Salmon run this system as well and they do so in the fall especially. Chinooks run rampant in the river running east but the Siletz River is on the smaller size. This is a great location that is less visited by the main fishing crowd.

Salmon in this bay runs deep so staying towards the middle of the bay is best, or a pier for shore fishing to get out on the water more than the shore. There are also creeks in the bay that can be explored as well.

Best Fall Salmon Fishing Near Portland

Willamette River (Dayton, OR)

Southwest of Portland runs the Willamette River. This is a long stretching river that finds its way south through Salem. This river boasts excellent fishing for fall salmon near Portland and a great small town to launch from is Dayton.

Dayton is a small town that sits on the elbow of the river and is in a unique position of being close to just about everything. Fishing here is great but can be difficult to troll because of the twists that the river takes.

Instead, try fly fishing in the small channels that make up the sides of the river to get at the salmon resting. There is also a small inlet directly east of Dayton that offers a launch.

Clackamas River

In southern Portland near Gladstone, the Willamette River cuts east and becomes Clackamas River. This river then stretches from Portland to the east and then cuts south to the North Fork Reservoir.

This river is great for the sole fact that it is attached to a reservoir for those who want to catch some other species after fishing the river all day. For the salmon in this river, fly fishing is best due to the small nature of the river, especially further inland.

The usual species will be in this river during their respective times of spawn. The chinook, coho, and the chum salmon. Fresh, live bait will work well too, especially if it floated downriver.

Best Fall Salmon Fishing (Central and Eastern Oregon)

Snake River

Located in eastern Oregon is the snake river with great salmon fishing fed by hatcheries nearby. This is a good river that runs north to south and makes up a portion of the eastern border of Oregon.

Salmon fishing here is a little different than on the western coast of Oregon due to the environment and the terrain. During the fall, in particular, the weather in this region is rough and can be very cold.

Fishing fall salmon in this area can be done with bait and artificials and spinners. Smaller-sized lures and hooks may also be applied to this river as the salmon will generally be smaller than their coastal relatives.

Columbia River (Umatilla)

Umatilla is just about as far north as you can go along the Columbia and still be in Oregon. What makes this spot so special for the fall is that you can shore fish with ease here. Boating is difficult during bad weather and shore fishing may be easier.

Northeast of Umatilla, on the southern shore of the Columbia is a string of public access and state parks that can all be fished and also camped. Anglers bringing an RV or a Motorhome will be able to really utilize this area well.

Try using bait that stays off of the bottom of the river here. Let the bait float downstream for a while and if there is no luck, move up or downstream.

Best Locations for Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon, or the humpy, are landlocked and usually found in reservoirs and stillwater locations throughout eastern Oregon. They are great eating and fun catching and are abundant.

Many small towns and a few larger ones in eastern Oregon offer some of the best Kokanee fishing in the country and we will look at a few such locations. Here are the 2 best Kokanee fishing locations in Oregon.

Haystack Reservoir

Haystack Reservoir is located southeast of the town of Carver in central Oregon and offers some of the best Kokanee fishing in the state. It is located away from towns so utilizing the campgrounds on-site may be beneficial.

Kokanee salmon in the reservoir will strike at artificials usually but they strike more often on bait of some kind. Scent is also a factor that can give you the upper hand when fishing this reservoir so try anything pungent.

Haystack reservoir has three major campgrounds that offer access to the water but there is also ample fishing at its north side for the angler feeling up to a walk. Fishing is generally better by watercraft so kayaking this small reservoir would be a good way to fish.

Wallowa Lake

Located in the far northeast corner of Oregon and just south of the town of Joseph is Lake Wallowa. This lake offers great Kokanee fishing as well as other recreation. The shape of this lake is very long and oval making it great for trolling runs and offers watercraft ramps and a marina at its southern end.

The state park is large and can accommodate a large group as well as parking for boats and trailers. On the north end is a watercraft rental store and a historical park that can be used to launch into the lake from as well.

As with other landlocked waters in Oregon, try fishing with bait and artificials in that order and make large sweeping runs when trolling. Fish seek cooler water when the heat rises so consider running deeper and deeper as the day goes on.

Fishing Public Vs. Tribal Lands

There are 9 federally recognized reservations in Oregon and they all have different rules and expectations for anyone seeking to fish their lands. Most tribes in the state have established confederacy and joined as one entity in a legal sense, and this includes fishing legalities.

Many tribes offer licenses in a few varieties such as 1-day, 3-day, and season licenses. The licenses also offer legal fishing in only certain zones in some reservations as well due to hatchery work and heritage waters reserved to the tribe.

Fly Fishing Vs. Tackle For Oregon Salmon

Fly fishing and using standard tackle both work well for Oregon salmon but sometimes an area is best suited to a particular fishing style. For example, creeks and narrow rivers make for great fly fishing. They are smaller areas of water and can make tackle difficult to maneuver and work whereas a fly is a lighter approach.

Artificials are suited for trolling and that is a common and well-tested tactic for fishing salmon everywhere, not just Oregon. Plugs become more prevalent the closer you get to saltwater and spinners and shiners are great for getting some attention on a bright day.

In terms of what is most successful, you should always look at what the locals are using. Most folks will share that information with you. Also, when you go to local bait and tackle shops, look at what is front and center in their store.

Often the lures that are doing the best will be on the shelf right there in front of you when you walk in. try a few different colors though because you never know what will work. Salmon behaviors change rapidly with the spawning season.

Oregon Fishing Regulations

For salmon and steelhead, the state of Oregon requires that your bag limit be 20 for the season and everything thereafter will be required to be released. This is to better regulate the population and aid in hatchery operations.

Angling permits are $44.00 for residents of Oregon and $110.50 for non-residents and salmon/steelhead permits are an additional $33.00 for both residents and non-residents.

Another optional purchase that is suitable for fishing salmon, especially trolling, is a two-rod validation permit. This permit costs $28.00 and allows you to use 2 poles for your person.

Some costs are annual and some fees span the course of two years. If you are going to be a returning angler a year later, consider looking for these options to save money in the long term. (Note: these prices are accurate at the time of writing this article and subject to change at any time by the State of Oregon)

Temporary Licensing

1-day permit $23.00
2-day permit $42.00
3-day permit $59.50
7-day (out of state) $93.50

Youth Licensing (12-17 years old)

$10.00 both resident and non-resident

Boat Use Fee (over 10-feet)

$7.00 per week
$19.00 annually
$32.00 two-year

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Seattle, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Astoria, please check out this helpful guide.