Pacific Northwest fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. It’s salmon season in the Pacific Northwest, and the fall runs are in full swing. The first fall rains help push fish into the rivers, and anglers are heading out in force. This is one of the best times of the year to fish the region.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, coho salmon are pushing into the rivers of the Olympic Peninsula, Puget Sound, and the Oregon coast. Fall chinook are moving up the Columbia River and its tributaries, and summer steelhead are mixed in throughout the region. In the saltwater, coho are still available in some marine areas for anglers trolling and mooching.
Where to Find Them
Coho are in rivers like the Skagit, the Snohomish, and the Puyallup in Washington, and the Nestucca, the Siletz, and the Tillamook Bay tributaries in Oregon. Fall chinook are on the Columbia and in tributaries like the Lewis, the Cowlitz, and the Deschutes. Steelhead are in the Columbia and its tributaries.
Tides & Conditions
River levels and fall rains are the key factor. A good rain will bring in fresh fish, while low, clear water can make fishing tough. On the tidewater sections, the full moon on Saturday will produce big tide swings, which moves fish upriver. Check river levels and the forecast before you go.
Tackle & Tactics
For coho in the rivers, cast spinners, spoons, or jigs, or drift eggs or shrimp under a float. For fall chinook on the Columbia, troll spinners or plugs, or back-bounce eggs. For steelhead, drift beads or jigs under a float, or swing flies. Match your leader to water clarity.
On the saltwater side, marine areas in Puget Sound and along the coast have their own coho and chinook seasons that open and close through the fall. Trolling a flasher and a hoochie or a small spoon along the tide rips and points is productive when the areas are open, and mooching with herring works well for the bigger fish.
Local Intel This Week
There are many public access points and boat launches along the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Some popular spots include the Skagit River near Mount Vernon, the Columbia River near Vancouver, and Tillamook Bay on the Oregon coast. Salmon and steelhead seasons in Washington and Oregon are set river by river and can change on short notice with emergency rules, so check current Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations before you fish.
This Week’s Tip
Coho are known for being aggressive and can be caught on a variety of lures. When the fish are in the rivers, try a pink or chartreuse jig under a float. It’s a simple but very effective technique.
More Pacific Northwest Resources
All Pacific Northwest fishing reports · Seasonal fishing calendars · Submit your own report
Planning a trip to Pacific Northwest?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.