Hells Canyon Fishing Report

Updated: 4/19/03 

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Walleye Report for Columbia River near Irrigon, Oregon

The spring walleye fishery here on the Columbia R. turned on as early as I have ever seen it. The river temp never got below 42 degrees through the winter and with the mild weather with nice warm days the water temp was 45 degrees by March 1st. I started my guided trips the second week of March and the spawn was in full tilt from the day I started. The first week I fished was the best week I had for bigger fish. Most days I would take 4 clients, we would average 1 big fish per day from 10-16 lbs and then 4-6 more smaller fish from 9-2 lbs. The big hens were very active and I new things would slow down as more and more fish cycled through the spawn. Soon we began hooking less big fish and more small fish. I would have days where we would boat 20 walleye but no fish over 5 lbs. This is unheard of for Irrigon in the month of March, normally you hook very few fish in a day, but the ones you get are Dandy’s. By the end of the month I felt that most of the spawn was complete. Even the smaller fish we would get were not spawner males but immature females with no eggs.

The Spring Classic Tournament was held the last weekend of March. By then the river temp was 47 degrees. Fifty Six teams competed and very few large females were brought in, but there were a few weighed in 12-15 lbs. Including a 16+ brought to the scales by a fisherman not in the tourney! Most all of the bigger fish were caught at Patterson point. Jig and crawler or blade baits jigged vertical in 20-40 ft deep seemed to be the ticket as usual. My wife Heather and I placed 7th for $777. We limited with our 6 fish each day, and as far as I know we are the only team to have ever limited both days in the history of this tournament!

All and all it was good spring season. I ‘m proud to say that every large female brought in my boat this spring was released unharmed. This fishery is very special to me, and I am glad to see most of the big fish being released by sport fishermen.

Any Walleye Central junkies out there wanting info on Spring Walleye fishing the Columbia River feel free to contact me at Jason@hellscanyonsportfishing.com

I am always amazed at how many fishermen from the mid-west either hire me or bring there own boats out to the Columbia in search of a trophy of a lifetime. Until then, tight lines and good fishing!

Jason Schultz

Got Fish? Call me..... 
Jason Schultz 
Hells Canyon Sport Fishing 
208-750-1100