Walleye inhabit the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, to the Canadian border. The best fishing is from Boardman, Oregon, to the Tricities, Washington.
Finding walleye in the massive Columbia River requires following the fish’s seasonal patterns. Walleye spawn mid-April to mid-May, moving to deep water post-spawn before returning to shallows in early June.
Early spring is prime time for trophy walleye. The secret is fishing in shallow water at night. The days surrounding the full moon are considered the best time to target large females.
By late June, walleye move to weedlines, flats and depth contours with sharp edges. As the temperature drops, walleye remain near edges, deep weedlines and flats.
Starting in mid-November, the transition from shallow water to deep offers excellent opportunities to catch walleye in depressions in the river bottom.
When the current is running fast, walleye push to the sides of the river, the inside of a bend or current seams, or the fish wait along an edge to ambush bait. When the current is slower, the fish spread out on flats next to deep edges.
PRO TIP: To search for concentrations of walleye, slow troll a worm harness, Mack’s Lure Slow Death or a bottom walker. I start with a one- to four-ounce bottom walker connected to the mainline. From the bottom walker to the harness, I have five to six feet of leader and a night crawler on the harness.
Jim Davis is an experienced outdoorsman and Mack's Lure Pro Staffer with a lifelong dedication to hunting and fishing. Since 2014, he has immersed himself in kayak angling, earning recognition as the “walleye guy” among the Pacific Northwest fishing community.
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