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On the Lewis and Clark Trail Fishing Guide: Columbia Bar click here to find another fishing spot
Columbia River

Photo: Fishing for salmon on the Columbia River with Mount Hood looking on. Photo courtesy Drew Winterer.

"there was great joy with the natives last night in consequence of the arrival of the Salmon; one of those fish was caught; this was the harbinger of good news to them. They informed us that these fish would arrive in great quantities in the course of about 5 days. this fish was dressed and being divided into small peices was given to each child in the village. this custom is founded in a supersticious opinion that it will hasten the arrival of the Salmon." -- Meriwether Lewis, April 19, 1806

The salmon of the Pacific Northwest played a major role in the Expedition's crossing of the Rocky Mountains. The Corps chose to leave the Bitterroot River and cross over Lolo Pass because no salmon swam in the Bitterroot (see the "Bitterroot River" section for the explanation). After the Corps of Discovery crossed Lolo Pass, they subsisted almost entirely on dried salmon, which they bartered from the tribes along the Columbia and Snake rivers.

taking a closer look

Where to Fish

Where to fish: The Columbia Bar and the Pacific Ocean

How to get there: From Astoria, Oregon, take Route 101 west five miles to US-26. Take this north through Warrenton, Oregon, a great fishing community. Follow signs to Fort Stevens State Park, then park in the lot for the South Jetty. From here there are many good beach-fishing spots where you can use surf casting rods and bait. To fish this area from a boat, contact the local communities Hammond, Oregon, and Ilwaco, Washington for information on boat ramps and guided fishing services. There are also guiding outfits in the town of Astoria, Oregon.

What to fish for: Salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon

What to use: This is mainly bait fishing territory. Most anglers hook a small baitfish onto a heavy, brightly colored jig. Use a surfcasting rod with a baited hook from shore.

Other resources: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/RecReports/northwill.htm