Mid Columbia River Fishing Adventures

a group of four people holding up king salmon at buoy 10 in astoria oregon

Mid Columbia River Guided Fishing Trips

Looking for the ultimate fishing adventure on the Columbia River?

If you’re looking to have a great Chinook and Coho Salmon fishing experience, the Mid-Columbia River is where it’s at! The area extends from Bonneville Dam all the way up through John Day Dam and there are some hot spots along the way.

Spring Fishing:

We are excited to announce that the highly anticipated fishing season at Drano Lake will start from April 20th to May 20th! This year, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife predicts a massive run of 8,000 Spring Kings making their way to Drano Lake.

Drano Lake is known for its unique terminal fishery, which means there are abundant harvestable fish available. Currently, the limit is set at 1 spring King, but with such a promising run, it is highly likely that the limit will be raised to 2. To learn more please visit Drano Lake Fishing Report.

Fall Fishing:

Join us this September for an unforgettable fall Chinook fishing experience on the scenic Columbia River near The Dalles, OR. We’ll be casting our lines at the mouth of the Deschutes River, where an abundance of over 500,000 Chinook and over 500,000 Coho await this year!

The Deschutes River offers a serene haven of cold water for migrating salmon to rest and rejuvenate before their onward journey upstream. Here, you’ll find remarkable chrome-bright fish that not only offer a thrilling catch but also boast exceptional cutting quality. Enjoy the thrill of landing two salmon—one majestic Chinook and one stunning Coho, or opt for two Cohos.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, consider the welcoming accommodations in The Dalles, Rufus, or Bigg Junction. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience—book your adventure from September 1st to October 1st.

Call (208) 790-2128

Sturgeon Fishing on the Columbia River

Get ready for the start of fishing season in Rufus, Oregon!

Beginning January 1st, it’s all about Sturgeon with our Columbia fishing guides working hard to land what we affectionately call “Columbia River Gold.” Once that quota is met, we go after spring Chinook and Walleye, now that takes skill. So, book your fishing adventure with Reel Time Fishing and let’s go have some fun!

Walleye are the ling cod of fresh water – simply the best tasting freshwater fish you can catch. Once the Spring Chinook shows up, we will put down the walleye rods and pick up the salmon gear. This area can be a great Chinook fishing adventure if you are with the right guides. There are hot spots where you need to be or else you will just be “fishing” all day. Visit our Rufus or John Day Dam pages to learn more about these fisheries.

Book Your Trip

Our Amazing Fishing Guide Reviews

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 250 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Kimberly Kempton 
 March 28, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I usually fish with Reel Time on the Clearwater River for steelhead.  But this time I fished with them in Baja California.  We started in Magdelena Bay for two days then to Loreto for three days.  Fishing in Mag Bay we caught so many different species of fish and fished in the Pacific and the mangroves in the bay. In Loreto we did two days fishing for yellow tail and one day bottom fishing.   Once again we caught so many species of fish.  We took our fresh catch to the hotel restaurant and had fresh sashimi and ceviche. It was epic.  For your next planned fishing adventure I would suggest Reel Time.  We saw whales and dolphins as well.
  
 
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   Ed Chaney 
 March 17, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Reel Time Fishing is a great operation. Plenty of communication ahead of time to make sure everything goes smoothly on arrival, including help with selecting a place to stay. Their boats are roomy and super comfortable. Bryce Wyatt was our guide. We had success fishing for steelhead in the Clearwater near Orofino and the Grande Ronde in the middle of nowhere. Great scenery and great fishing. Bryce worked his tail off for us. I can't say enough about his work ethic. We are going back next year.
  
 
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   Steve Wharton 
 January 26, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Vern and Nick worked hard to get us into fish. And they/we were very successful. I brought my two grandsons (ages 7 and 9) and they had a blast! Thanks again for a great day.
  
 
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   Casey Charbonneau 
 January 21, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We went steelhead and sturgeon fishing in Idaho/Washington with Reel Time Fishing and had an absolutely amazing experience. I especially want to single out Bryce Wyatt — he truly made the trip unforgettable. Bryce was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about what he does. He worked nonstop to put us on fish, made sure everyone felt comfortable, and was always willing to help, teach, and answer questions. On top of that, he was just an awesome person to spend the day with — professional, friendly, and fun. If you’re thinking about booking with Reel Time Fishing, ask for Bryce Wyatt. You won’t regret it. We can’t wait to come back and fish with him again!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Andrew Huber 
 January 19, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Gabe is an awesome guide! He worked hard and got us on the fish. My 12 year old son was able to catch his first steelhead and we caught lots of whitefish. I would definitely book another trip in the future.
  
 
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   mconcrete11 mconcrete11 
 November 25, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great day, best ever. Limited out last hour. Travis, and Kyle are great guides.
  
 
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   Rick Pasta 
 October 24, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Gabe was a very professional and very easy going guide our experience was fantastic. We hooked -20 fish landing 12 steelhead on our trip. I will book with real fishing very soon.
  
 
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   Ruby Collins 
 October 16, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had the BEST experience. I went out on Ole Ole and the captain Pepe did an amazing job! The boat brought in 5 species of fish! I was lucky to land a Striped Marlin! A beautiful boat with a great crew! Another person caught a Dorado! Thank you all for a great time! It was "Kiss and Release" This was in Cabo! Ruby October 14, 2025.. My second fishing trip with Captain Pepe and his crew Armando and Luis. The "Tres Amigas", Ruby, Jennifer, and Florence fished for  two days. The first day all three of us hooked up with a Marlin at the same time. We caught and released 5 Stripped Marlin and we each caught and brought home a Dorado. Reel Time Fishing is the best charter in Cabo  I look forward to going back in February! Here are a few photos of our awesome fishing trip!!
  
 
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   Skyler Chesnut 
 October 12, 2025
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Awesome trip today on the Clearwater near Lewiston with guides Vern and Nick. Highly recommend!

Frequently Asked Questions about our fishing trips

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN I BRING ON MY TRIP?

The legal max boatload is six anglers, but with six full time guides available we are able to accommodate large groups of more than six people.

IS LUNCH/DRINKS PROVIDED ON MY TRIPS?

We do provide a BBQ lunch and drinks on all Clearwater, Snake, and Dworshak trips. Lunch and drinks ARE NOT provided on any of our Columbia River or Grande Ronde river trips.

HOW MANY HOURS ARE WE ON THE WATER?

Look forward to at least 8 hours of fishing unless you book a half day trip, then look forward to 4 hours of fishing

DO YOU PROVIDE ALL THE GEAR WE NEED TO FISH?

Yes, each guide is fully equipped with top-notch rods, reels and bait to ensure success on your trip.

DO I NEED TO PRE-PAY OR PLACE A DEPOSIT DOWN TO HOLD MY SPOT?

We require a 50% deposit at the time of booking, final payment must be made in full 10 days prior to your trip. We do not offer refunds for cancellations or head-count changes made inside 10 days of your trip.

DO YOU CLEAN AND FILLET OUR CATCH?

Yes, all of our guides will clean and fillet your catch unless otherwise specified.