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Portland is built on the Willamette River, a major tributary of the Columbia that flows through the center of the city past downtown, the Pearl District, and the industrial waterfront. It is one of the only major cities in America where you can catch salmon and steelhead inside city limits. Spring Chinook salmon run the Willamette from late March through June, passing under the Hawthorne Bridge and the Morrison Bridge on their way to spawning grounds upstream. Smallmouth bass hold in the boulder riprap, dock pilings, and concrete walls from April through October. White sturgeon, ancient fish that can exceed 10 feet, patrol the deeper channels. And the Columbia River, forming Portland's northern border, adds steelhead, fall Chinook, coho, walleye, and shad to the mix.
This is Pacific Northwest fishing in a city of 650,000 people. Salmon and craft beer. Steelhead and food carts. Sturgeon and bridges.
The Willamette River: Salmon Through Downtown
The Willamette through Portland is tidal, deep, and productive. Spring Chinook salmon are the premier target, hatchery-origin "springers" that return from the ocean every year are fishable from bank and boat in the Portland metro from late March through early June.
Where on the Willamette
Cathedral Park (St. Johns): Walk-on bank access under the St. Johns Bridge. Salmon, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, sturgeon, and walleye. One of the best bank fishing spots in Portland. Boat dock with ADA restroom.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park (Downtown): Bank fishing from the downtown waterfront between the Hawthorne and Morrison Bridges. Smallmouth bass, crappie, and seasonal salmon. Walk from any MAX station downtown.
Sellwood Riverfront Park (Sellwood): Walk-on access in the Sellwood neighborhood. Smallmouth bass along the riprap. Walk from the Sellwood Bridge area.
Kelley Point Park (North Portland): Where the Willamette meets the Columbia River, the confluence. Salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon. Walk-on from the park at the northern tip of Portland.
Willamette Park (Johns Landing): Walk-on bank access on the west side. Smallmouth bass and catfish along the riprap.
Salmon Techniques (from bank)
Spring Chinook: A 8'6" to 9' medium-heavy spinning rod, 4000-size reel, 20-pound braid, 15-pound fluorocarbon leader. Bobber-and-jig: a corky/yarn combo or bead setup under a slip bobber, drifted through the current seams near shore. Or plunking, a heavy sinker (4-6 ounces) on a slider rig with a Spin-N-Glo or Kwikfish, cast out and left to sit. Salmon stage along the banks and in the eddies before pushing upstream.
Springer season runs late March through early June, peaking in April and May. Check ODFW for current Willamette regulations, seasons, bag limits, and fin-clipping requirements change annually.
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass are the summer fishery in the Willamette. From late April through October, they hold along the boulder riprap, concrete walls, docks, log pilings, and bridge structure that line the river through the city.
Technique: A 6'6" to 7' medium spinning rod, 2500-size reel, 8-pound braid, 6-pound fluorocarbon. Ned rigs, tubes, drop shots, and small crankbaits worked along the riprap and structure. Topwater poppers at dawn and dusk. Smallmouth in the Willamette average 10 to 15 inches with occasional 18-inch fish.
Willamette River Smallmouth, Portland Three Spring Chinook Caught on the Willamette River in Portland, OregonThe Columbia River: Steelhead, Sturgeon, and Shad
The Columbia River forms Portland's northern boundary and adds several species not found in the Willamette. Fall Chinook, coho salmon, steelhead, white sturgeon, walleye, American shad, and smallmouth bass are all catchable from shore.
Where on the Columbia
Kelley Point Park: The Willamette-Columbia confluence. Bank access to both rivers. Salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead.
Marine Drive / Columbia Slough: Bank access along Marine Drive on the south side of the Columbia. Sturgeon, walleye, and bass in the slough and backwater areas.
Sauvie Island (Northwest Portland): Public fishing access on the Columbia side. Sturgeon, salmon, and steelhead.
Shad Run (May-June)
American shad run up the Columbia in massive numbers every spring. Shad are 3 to 5 pounds, fight hard on light tackle, and hit small jigs and darts. Fish from the bank at Kelley Point or the I-205 area. Fast, fun action when the run is on.
Willamette River Fishing Slam, Multispecies Challenge Willamette River Bass Fishing, We Found Some TreasureCity Park Ponds: Stocked Trout
ODFW stocks rainbow trout in several Portland-area park ponds. These are small ponds ideal for families and beginners.
Westmoreland Park Casting Pond (Sellwood): A small, accessible pond stocked with trout. Walk-on from the park.
Commonwealth Lake (Beaverton, adjacent to Portland): Stocked with trout. Walk-on.
Blue Lake Regional Park (Fairview): East of Portland. Stocked with trout. Entry fee for vehicle.
Fishing Licence and Regulations
Oregon fishing licence: Required for anyone 12+. Resident annual $44.75. Nonresident annual $98.50. One-day resident $20.75, nonresident $20.75.
Combined angling tag: Includes salmon/steelhead tag, Columbia River basin endorsement, and shellfish. Required for salmon and steelhead.
Spring Chinook (Willamette): Check ODFW for current season dates, bag limits, and hatchery-vs-wild fin-clipping rules. Regulations change annually.
Smallmouth bass: No daily limit. No minimum size. Take as many as you want, they are non-native.
White sturgeon: Retention seasons vary, check ODFW. Most of the year is catch-and-release only for sturgeon.
When to Fish
March-June (Spring): Spring Chinook run (the main event). Smallmouth bass start moving. Shad run on the Columbia (May-June). The best season.
July-September (Summer): Smallmouth bass peak, topwater all summer long. Sturgeon in the channels. Portland's dry summer makes this the most pleasant fishing weather.
October-November (Fall): Fall Chinook and coho on the Columbia. Steelhead start running. Smallmouth slow down as water cools.
December-February (Winter): Winter steelhead in the tributaries (Clackamas, Sandy). Willamette smallmouth dormant. Sturgeon in the deeper holes. Portland winters are wet, rain gear essential.
Practical Details
Getting there: MAX Light Rail reaches Tom McCall Waterfront Park (downtown). TriMet buses reach Cathedral Park, Sellwood, and Kelley Point. The Willamette is bikeable via the Eastbank Esplanade and the waterfront path. Car for Columbia River spots.
Gear that travels: A two-piece 7-foot medium spinning rod covers smallmouth, trout, and panfish. For salmon, step up to a 8'6" to 9' medium-heavy rod. For sturgeon, heavy tackle (50-pound braid minimum). Portland anglers tend toward fly rods, a 6-weight covers river smallmouth beautifully.
For a deeper dive into Portland-area fishing, read our complete Portland fishing guide. For Pacific Northwest fishing beyond Portland, check out our Seattle fishing guide or our Long Beach, WA guide. For another Western urban fly-fishing river, see urban fishing in Denver, trout and carp on the South Platte.
Tackle shops: Fisherman's Marine and Outdoor (multiple Portland locations, the local institution), Bi-Mart (multiple locations, budget tackle), Orvis (Lake Oswego).
Smallmouth Bass Willamette River Portland, Oregon
