Best Summer Fishing on the Columbia River

BOOK A TRIP WITH A FISHING GUIDE THIS SUMMER ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER

Man, woman, and young boy pose for a photo in a boat with 8 fish they caught at buoy 10

You’ll find the best summer fishing on the Columbia River by booking a trip with an experienced and quality fishing guide. A trip with Hazen’s Guide Service this summer is sure to be the highlight of a memorable and enjoyable vacation!

The Columbia River is full of summer fishing action with lots of opportunities all summer long. Salmon, sturgeon, and steelhead are all catchable during the summer months on the lower Columbia River.

Book Multiple-Day Fishing Trips

Many of our families and friend groups enjoy booking multiple-day trips to get an opportunity to target a variety of fish types. One of our favorite combos is summer steelhead and sturgeon. Especially since sturgeon is a guaranteed day of fish fighting action!

Easy Access from PDX

All fishing trips booked with us embark from boat launches within a short 30 minutes to 2 hours drive of the Portland airport. We’re able to recommend where to stay that’s close to where we’re fishing and where you plan on spending the rest of your time on vacation.

Here’s what we’re catching during the summer months on the Columbia River:

What are you waiting for? We’re happy to help you plan the perfect fishing trip this summer. Get in touch today!

Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing Guide – 2021 Season

Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing Guide

Taking a fishing trip with a Columbia River sturgeon fishing guide is guaranteed to be full of action! Sturgeon jump and thrash as they’re caught on the line providing a fun and exciting catching experience. We’re often blessed with double or even triple hook-ups at one time.

At maturity white sturgeon, commonly called “dinosaur fish” due to their prehistoric genetics, average upwards of 5 feet long. It’s not uncommon for our guests to reel in a sturgeon as large as 8 feet long. Too large to even get the fish in the boat!

2021 Sturgeon Retention Season

For the 2021 sturgeon season on the Columbia River, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife has set a limited retention season. Typically a catch a release fishery most of the year, the agency has set certain dates, times, and limitations on the size of fish we’re allowed to keep. Below are the ODFW regulations for the area Hazen’s Guide Service usually fishes, near Astoria, Oregon.

COLUMBIA RIVER MAINSTEM, Buoy 10 upstream to Wauna Powerlines

Area definition: From the Wauna powerlines (River Mile 40) downstream to the mouth at Buoy 10, including Youngs Bay; and all adjacent Washington tributaries.

Permanent rules for sturgeon are in effect, including closed to the retention of sturgeon, except for the following modifications:

  • This area will be open to retention of white sturgeon on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays during May 10, 2021 through June 5, 2021 (12 days: May 10, May 12, May 15, May 17, May 19, May 22, May 24, May 26, May 29, May 31, June 2, and June 5).
  • On days open to white sturgeon retention, angling for sturgeon is prohibited after 2 PM, including catch and release.
  • Daily bag limit is one white sturgeon, 44-50 inches fork length (fork length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the fork in the caudal fin (tail) with the fish laying on its side on a flat surface, with the tape measure/ruler positioned flat under the fish).
  • Annual bag limit is two white sturgeon (applicable to any/all 2021 retention fisheries).
  • Retention of green sturgeon prohibited.
  • ODFW fishing regulations

2021 Sturgeon Catch and Release Season

Outside of the regulations listed above, catch and release sturgeon fishing on the Columbia River can be even more fun! Later in the season after the retention dates have passed we get more bites, with bigger fish. Catching a 9-11 foot sturgeon is not uncommon during this part of the season. The months of June and July are best for peak sturgeon fishing action.

This is a world-class fishery where we host anglers from all across the planet. Dreams of catching a once-in-a-lifetime fish (or two!) are easily fulfilled on these guided fishing trips. . Read more about sturgeon fishing here.

2021-05-01T17:48:03-07:00April 23rd, 2021|Fishing Report, Sturgeon|

Fishing Report – Buoy 10, Fall Chinook & Coho Salmon Updates

It’s been a while since our last update, but I can say I’m happy to report salmon fishing has been excellent in the last couple of weeks!

SUMMER RECAP

We started our Fall season at Buoy 10 around mid-August after spending a few months targeting Columbia River summer steelhead and sturgeon. Both steelhead and sturgeon fishing provided plenty of action this summer. Our biggest sturgeon this year measured a whopping 9 feet in length! Our best day steelhead fishing we hooked over twenty and landed around 12 or so- lots of action!

Buoy 10 season was really good when the tides and conditions were favorable. A lot of NW wind this year made fishing a little bit of a struggle compared to other years but most days were filled with limits or near limits of nice salmon. Of course, there were some tough days mixed in too where the bite was off — but that’s fishing!

After Buoy 10 closed, we moved upriver in the Columbia River around the St Helens area and found plenty of willing biters there too. We have been catching a mixed bag of Coho and Chinook salmon. Fishery managers gave us some additional days to fish in that area which provided some great extra opportunity as well.

Thanks go out to all the wonderful people that fished with us so far this 2020 season. So many new friends have been made, as well as getting to see many old friends and familiar faces. You are all very special to me and I enjoyed every minute I get to spend with you all 😊

Here’s a highlight reel from the summer action…

LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE FALL SALMON FISHING

We’re really looking forward to the latter part of this fall season. I’m thinking It’s going to be action-packed!!

COMING UP…

  • Both Chinook and Coho fishing at Buoy 10 and Nehalem Bay! Beginning this Saturday, September 19th, the Columbia River will be open every day through the end of December 2020. Which is great news!!!
  • Mid-October through early December (after fall rains) we’ll head to Tillamook for drift boat fishing for fall Chinook salmon.
  • Crabbing out of Hammond Oregon – months that end in “r” (September, October, November, December).

Remember it’s never too early to get a trip on the books for the popular winter steelhead season (mid-December through April). These dates are limited so don’t wait!

BE IN THE KNOW

We recently started to add open seats to our contact page on our website so you can see when we have immediate openings in the near future. It’s been helpful for us, and clients as well, to reduce back and forth communication for scheduling. It sure has made life easier while we’ve been super busy the past few months!

Fishing Report – 2020 Sturgeon Season on the Columbia River

The Columbia River sturgeon fishing season for retention has historically been select dates in May and June. As of today (May 28, 2020), Oregon and Washington wildlife officials have yet to come to an agreement for sturgeon retention for the 2020 season. Once retention dates are set we will send out an update by email (join our email list). Regardless of the retention dates we are booking catch and release fishing trips through July. These monster fish are awesome fun to catch and release!

Columbia River sturgeon fishing trips are fantastic for the whole family! It’s a great way to get out of the house and get outdoors while avoiding crowds and air travel. You may find that local hotels are beginning to open up reservations for when it’s not convenient for a day trip.

As of today (5/22/2020), under the current Phase 1 Covid-19 reopening of Oregon, we are able to accommodate up to 2 people from different households or 3 people from the same household. We have thorough cleaning and sanitation procedures in place to provide a safe fishing trip for everyone.

2020-05-30T10:27:57-07:00May 28th, 2020|Fishing Report, Sturgeon|

2019 Sturgeon Fishing on the Columbia River

2019 STURGEON FISHING SEASON

Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing Guide 

LIMITED DATES AND SEATS AVAILABLE FOR GUIDED STURGEON FISHING TRIPS IN 2019 

Woman poses with sturgeon she caught on the Columbia River near Astoria with fishing guide Mike Hazen

2019 STURGEON SEASON RETENTION DATES ANNOUNCED

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recently announced the white sturgeon retention dates for the 2019 season. Typically a catch and release fishery most of the year, the agency has allotted certain days and times anglers are allowed to keep white sturgeon on the Columbia River from Wauna Mill near Westport to the mouth of the Columbia at Buoy 10.

Hazen’s Guide Service is ready to book your guided sturgeon fishing trip to accommodate the newly announced dates of:

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays during May 13, 2019 through June 5, 2019

(11 days: May 13, May 15, May 18, May 20, May 22, May 25, May 27, May 29, June 1, June 3, and June 5).

On days open to white sturgeon retention, angling for sturgeon is prohibited after 2 PM, including catch and release.

Full text of fishing regulations can be found on the ODFW website.

Book your fishing trip with Hazen’s Guide Service
Columbia River Sturgeon Fishing Guide

ONE DAY OFF FISHING CAN FEEL LIKE A MUCH NEEDED VACATION 

Everyone of all ages will enjoy fishing for sturgeon! Because early summer weather is often mild, it makes perfect time for fishing for anglers young and old alike. Many people enjoy taking out the whole family for an action-packed day of fishing. We also love to accommodate groups of friends or colleagues for business trips and team building experiences. We can fit up to 6 guests on our 22′ River Wild power boat.

DON'T MISS OUT!
DAYS LEFT UNTIL THE 2019 KEEPER STURGEON FISHING SEASON IS OVER:
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FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM AND WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:

2020-05-30T10:29:39-07:00April 1st, 2019|Sturgeon|
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