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Lake ReportsLake Berryessa
Kokanee, trout, dodgers, spoons, and guide updates.
Lake ReportsShasta LakeReservoir trout, landlocked kings, depth, and baitfish lanes.
Lake ReportsLake OrovilleOpen-water trolling updates for trout and salmon.
River ReportsSacramento RiverPlug tuning, wraps, scent, and river salmon conditions.
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Species ReportsKokaneeDodgers, hoochies, spinners, corn, depth, speed, and scent.
Species ReportsSalmonRiver and ocean reports with flashers, plugs, bait, and scent.
Species ReportsStriped BassDelta trolling, baitfish color, current, and water movement.
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Guide ReportsBig Nate
Lake Berryessa kokanee, trout, scent, and trolling updates.
Guide ReportsJeff GoodwinNorthern California salmon, trout, and kokanee reports.
Guide ReportsAustin MoserNorthwest salmon updates, flashers, plugs, and bait programs.
Guide ReportsDavid JohnsonOregon salmon reports and changing river conditions.
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Report GearSpoons
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Report GearDodgersFlash and kick for kokanee, trout, and light trolling spreads.
Report GearFlashersRotating flash for salmon and larger trolling presentations.
Report GearHard BaitsPlugs and bait profiles for trout and salmon programs.
Report GearScentsGuide-used scent options for trolling setups.
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Salmon Gear Breakdown
Flash, bait, and hardware for big salmon water.
Kokanee Trolling Setup
Dodgers, scent, speed, and presentation notes.
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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
Learn moreWillamette River Fishing Report | May 2026
Report by Capt. David Johnson David Johnson guides for spring Chinook across Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington and is a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop David Johnson's tackle. What is working right now Spring Chinook are out in force in May across the Willamette River, Portland Harbor, Wind River, and Drano Lake. Capt. David Johnson is trolling Pro-Trolls with shrimp and spinners, plus wrapped Mag Lips and eggs in the tributaries. Willamette water has warmed to 61 to 62 degrees, a touch warm, but guys keep catching springers near the mouth. Expect it to hold into July. What is biting on the Willamette River right now?Spring Chinook, the prized springers. Capt. David Johnson reports the fish are out in force in May, with anglers still catching them in the Willamette and Portland Harbor near the mouth of the river. The action should continue all the way to the 4th of July. Where are the springers holding on the Willamette?Down near the mouth of the Willamette in the Portland Harbor area, plus the connected Wind River and Drano Lake in Southwest Washington and Oregon coast tributaries. David follows the springers across this system depending on wind and water. What are the water conditions on the Willamette River?The Willamette has warmed to about 61 to 62 degrees, which David notes is a little warm for springers, but anglers are still hooking them. He covers Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington, moving to whichever water is fishing best. How is David rigging for spring Chinook?He trolls Pro-Trolls with shrimp and spinners, runs wrapped Mag Lips and eggs in the tributaries, and fishes herring or Pro-Trolls with spinners in Tillamook Bay. These are the presentations carrying the springer bite into June and beyond. What is the outlook for the Willamette springers?Strong. David expects the spring Chinook bite to hold across the Willamette and Portland Harbor through the 4th of July, though he has many other waters to fish. No Catch America product was specifically named in this report. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. David Johnson): We're going to be fishing in the Wind River and Drano Lake in Southwest Washington, some of the Oregon coast and Willamette Valley tributaries, and Tillamook Bay, and those are all for spring Chinook. There's also some Willamette River fishing still going on. The water's warmed up already, it's like 62, 61 degrees. Guys are catching them on Pro-Trolls and spinners still, and in the Portland Harbor down near the mouth of the Willamette. Willamette River May 2026 FAQ What is biting on the Willamette River in May 2026?Spring Chinook, with fish still being caught near the mouth in Portland Harbor. How warm is the Willamette River water?About 61 to 62 degrees, a little warm for springers but fish are still biting. Where do you catch Willamette springers?Portland Harbor near the mouth of the Willamette, plus Wind River, Drano Lake, and coastal tributaries. How long will the Willamette springer bite last?David expects it to continue all the way until the 4th of July. What baits work for Willamette spring Chinook?Pro-Trolls with spinners, wrapped Mag Lips, eggs, and herring, depending on the water. Who provided this Willamette River report?Capt. David Johnson, a Catch America pro-staff captain. Shop the Tackle Shop Capt. David Johnson's Tackle Shop Salmon Trolling Gear
Learn moreWillamette River Fishing Report | April 2026
Report by Capt. David Johnson David Johnson guides the Willamette and Columbia systems for spring Chinook and is a Catch America captain. Shop David Johnson's tackle. What is working right now Spring Chinook are the target on the Willamette River in April 2026. Capt. David Johnson has been running sand shrimp and eggs behind jumbo jet divers and backtrolling. As the water warms and drops, he is switching to trolling a 360-type flasher with a spinner. In May, watch the tributaries with eggs, bait-wrapped plugs, and coon shrimp, and watch for a possible Columbia reopener. How is the Willamette River spring Chinook fishing?Capt. David Johnson has been fishing spring Chinook on the Willamette using sand shrimp and eggs, fished behind jumbo jet divers and backtrolled. The water is starting to warm and drop, which means less current, so he is transitioning toward more trolling as April continues. What presentation works as the Willamette warms up?Trolling. David says most anglers will switch to a 360-type flasher with a spinner, and possibly a shrimp behind it, as current drops. In warmer water, spinners are what people will be running for the rest of the month and into May. Where do the fish move in May on the Willamette system?Into the tributaries. As those rivers warm, fish push up and the fishery shifts back to eggs, bait-wrapped plugs, and coon shrimp. David lists those as the three main baits used in the tributaries once the spring fish start moving in. Could the Columbia River reopen in May?Possibly. David says to watch for a Columbia reopener if the dam counts are good or fewer fish were caught in April than expected. If it reopens, it would be prime time, fished as an anchor fishery with plugs or a troll fishery with herring. Watch the full report From the report (Capt. David Johnson): We've been fishing on the Willamette for spring Chinook, using sand shrimp and eggs, fished behind jumbo jet divers and backtrolled. The water is starting to warm up, so it's time to start switching over to doing more trolling. Most guys are going to be trolling with a 360-type flasher with some kind of a spinner. In May, keep an eye out if they open the Columbia. Willamette River April 2026 FAQ What is the target on the Willamette in April 2026?Spring Chinook salmon, per Capt. David Johnson. What bait works for Willamette spring Chinook?Sand shrimp and eggs fished behind jumbo jet divers and backtrolled. What changes as the Willamette water warms?Anglers switch to trolling a 360-type flasher with a spinner as current drops. What baits work in the tributaries in May?Eggs, bait-wrapped plugs, and coon shrimp as fish move up the warming tributaries. Might the Columbia River reopen in May?Yes, possibly, if dam counts are strong, fished with plugs on anchor or herring on the troll. What water conditions is David seeing?Warming temperatures and dropping water with less current heading into trolling season. Shop the Tackle Shop Johnson's Tackle Shop River Salmon Gear
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