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Lake Berryessa kokanee, trout, scent, and trolling updates.
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Guide ReportsAustin MoserNorthwest salmon updates, flashers, plugs, and bait programs.
Guide ReportsDavid JohnsonOregon salmon reports and changing river conditions.
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Willamette 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
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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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