Reports From The Water

Columbia River Fishing Report | July 2026

Report by Cameron Black Cameron Black of Gone Catching has guided the Columbia River system for 22 years and hosted the Catch America crew of Max Gross and Big Nate for this spring Chinook trip. What is working right now Spring Chinook are the prize on the Columbia River in the gorge and the Multnomah Channel, and the Catch America crew limited out both days with guide Cameron Black. The setup was big Brad's 360 flashers with shrimp, battling wind in the gorge. Springer runs are small and timing has to be right, so clean water and the right conditions matter most. What is biting on the Columbia River right now?Spring Chinook, the prized springers. Guide Cameron Black put the Catch America crew of Max Gross and Big Nate on full limits both days, fishing the Columbia Gorge one day and the Multnomah Channel the next. The fresh, chrome fish, some with sea lice, are the tasty spring run. Where are the Columbia springers holding?In the gorge near the Wind River and Drano Lake area, and over on the Multnomah Channel toward Oregon on a lower stock. Cameron picks water based on wind, choosing the fishable side of the gorge. Fish were fought out as far as 92 feet during the battle. What setup caught the Columbia springers?Big Brad's 360 flashers run with shrimp, off the boat in the wind and waves. Scott Kaul from Brad's Killer Fishing Gear joined the crew. The 360 flasher and shrimp combo drew the springer bites across both days. How do you fight and land a Columbia springer?Teamwork. When a second rod tangles, drop it into free spool and let the hooked fish run, then untangle. Keep the rod tip out, change rod direction to steer a fish away from anchor ropes, and net as a team. Cameron only dropped one fish in two days. What is Cameron's outlook on springer fishing?Realistic. Springer runs are small and the timing and conditions have to be right, with no muddy water or heavy debris. Some days you are looking for a single bite. The crew got two really good days, but Cameron stresses it can be a genuine challenge. Trolling speed was not specified in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Cameron Black): Game plan is to go battle for our salmon in the wind. We got big 360s on with shrimp. That's how you fight a nice Springer right there, baby. Springers runs are small and the timing has to be right and the conditions have to be right. You don't want muddy water. Both areas we kind of capitalized on the bites we got. We only dropped one fish in two days. Columbia River July 2026 FAQ What is biting on the Columbia River in July 2026?Spring Chinook, with the crew limiting out both days on the gorge and the Multnomah Channel. What setup works for Columbia springers?Big Brad's 360 flashers run with shrimp. How hard is Columbia springer fishing?Runs are small and timing and conditions must be right. Some days you fish for a single bite. What conditions do springers need?Clean water with no mud or heavy debris, and manageable wind in the gorge. What is the teamwork technique for landing springers?Drop tangled rods into free spool, keep tension on the hooked fish, steer it clear of anchor ropes, and net together. Who guided this Columbia River trip?Cameron Black of Gone Catching, with 22 years guiding the Columbia system. Shop the Tackle Brad's 360 Evolution Flasher Shop Salmon Trolling Gear